diff --git a/make/projects-dir.mk b/make/projects-dir.mk
index c0cedcb9..843c629a 100644
--- a/make/projects-dir.mk
+++ b/make/projects-dir.mk
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ ifneq ($(JANWARE_USER),)
   export JANWARE_USER
 endif
 
+ifneq ($(GIT_ASKPASS),)
+  GIT_ASKPASS               := $(realpath $(GIT_ASKPASS))
+endif
+
+ifneq ($(SSH_ASKPASS),)
+  SSH_ASKPASS               := $(realpath $(SSH_ASKPASS))
+endif
+
 # ------------ evaluate Makefile and environment variables
 
 ifneq ($(wildcard $(PROJECTS_TXT)),)