diff --git a/Development/Shake/Database.hs b/Development/Shake/Database.hs
--- a/Development/Shake/Database.hs
+++ b/Development/Shake/Database.hs
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
 withDatabase :: (String -> IO ()) -> FilePath -> Int -> (Database -> IO a) -> IO a
 withDatabase logger filename version act = do
     -- expand the filename, in case pwd has changed by the close action
-    filename <- canonicalizePath filename
+    -- filename <- canonicalizePath filename
     bracket (openDatabase logger filename version) closeDatabase act
 
 
diff --git a/shake.cabal b/shake.cabal
--- a/shake.cabal
+++ b/shake.cabal
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 cabal-version:      >= 1.6
 build-type:         Simple
 name:               shake
-version:            0.2.10
+version:            0.2.11
 license:            BSD3
 license-file:       LICENSE
 category:           Development