diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## 1.6.1.0
+
+* `widgetFileReload` and `widgetFileNoReload` now use absolute paths via the new `globFilePackage` Q Exp which can provide absolute templates paths within the project [#1691](https://github.com/yesodweb/yesod/pull/1691)
+
 ## 1.6.0.2
 
 * Replace deprecated decodeFile with decodeFileEither. This should have no semantic impact, but silences a deprecation warning. [#1658](https://github.com/yesodweb/yesod/pull/1658)
diff --git a/Yesod/Default/Util.hs b/Yesod/Default/Util.hs
--- a/Yesod/Default/Util.hs
+++ b/Yesod/Default/Util.hs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 module Yesod.Default.Util
     ( addStaticContentExternal
     , globFile
+    , globFilePackage
     , widgetFileNoReload
     , widgetFileReload
     , TemplateLanguage (..)
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@
     ) where
 
 import qualified Data.ByteString.Lazy as L
+import Data.FileEmbed (makeRelativeToProject)
 import Data.Text (Text, pack, unpack)
 import Yesod.Core -- purposely using complete import so that Haddock will see addStaticContent
 import Control.Monad (when, unless)
@@ -64,6 +66,11 @@
 globFile :: String -> String -> FilePath
 globFile kind x = "templates/" ++ x ++ "." ++ kind
 
+-- | `globFile` but returned path is absolute and within the package the Q Exp is evaluated
+-- @since 1.6.1.0
+globFilePackage :: String -> String -> Q FilePath
+globFilePackage = (makeRelativeToProject <$>) . globFile
+
 data TemplateLanguage = TemplateLanguage
     { tlRequiresToWidget :: Bool
     , tlExtension :: String
@@ -124,7 +131,7 @@
                  -> Bool -- ^ requires toWidget wrap
                  -> String -> (FilePath -> Q Exp) -> Q (Maybe Exp)
 warnUnlessExists shouldWarn x wrap glob f = do
-    let fn = globFile glob x
+    fn <- globFilePackage glob x
     e <- qRunIO $ doesFileExist fn
     when (shouldWarn && not e) $ qRunIO $ putStrLn $ "widget file not found: " ++ fn
     if e
diff --git a/yesod.cabal b/yesod.cabal
--- a/yesod.cabal
+++ b/yesod.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:            yesod
-version:         1.6.0.2
+version:         1.6.1.0
 license:         MIT
 license-file:    LICENSE
 author:          Michael Snoyman <michael@snoyman.com>
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
                    , data-default-class
                    , directory
                    , fast-logger
+                   , file-embed
                    , monad-logger
-                   , semigroups
                    , shakespeare
                    , streaming-commons
                    , template-haskell