diff --git a/qtgui/projectname.py b/qtgui/projectname.py
index a9fc72b..e3a7236 100644
--- a/qtgui/projectname.py
+++ b/qtgui/projectname.py
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ class ProjectNameWidget(QtWidgets.QDialog):
         if currentText.endswith("/"):
             currentText = currentText[:-1]
 
-        path = pathlib.Path(api.sessionRoot(), currentText)
+        fullpath = pathlib.Path(api.sessionRoot(), currentText) 
+        path = pathlib.Path(currentText)        
 
         errorMessage = ""
         if currentText == "":
@@ -84,9 +85,9 @@ class ProjectNameWidget(QtWidgets.QDialog):
             errorMessage = QtCore.QCoreApplication.translate("ProjectNameWidget", "Name must be a relative path.")
         elif pathlib.PurePosixPath(path).match("../*") or pathlib.PurePosixPath(path).match("*..*"):
             errorMessage = QtCore.QCoreApplication.translate("ProjectNameWidget", "Moving to parent directory not allowed.")
-        elif "/" in currentText and path.parent.exists() and not os.access(path.parent, os.W_OK):
+        elif "/" in currentText and fullpath.parent.exists() and not os.access(fullpath.parent, os.W_OK):
             errorMessage = QtCore.QCoreApplication.translate("ProjectNameWidget", "Writing in this directory is not permitted.")
-        elif path.exists():
+        elif fullpath.exists():
             errorMessage = QtCore.QCoreApplication.translate("ProjectNameWidget", "Name is already in use.")
 
         ok = self.ui.buttonBox.button(QtWidgets.QDialogButtonBox.Ok)