diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 37daec97b..e5145a012 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ function usage()
 	echo " crypto                    Build vbdev crypto module."
 	echo "                           No path required."
 	echo " fio                       Build fio_plugin."
-	echo "                           example: /usr/src/fio"
+	echo "                           default: /usr/src/fio"
 	echo " vhost                     Build vhost target. Enabled by default."
 	echo "                           No path required."
 	echo " internal-vhost-lib        Use the internal copy of rte_vhost. By default, the upstream"
@@ -363,13 +363,15 @@ for i in "$@"; do
 		--without-vpp)
 			CONFIG[VPP]=n
 			;;
+		--with-fio) ;&
 		--with-fio=*)
-			check_dir "$i"
-			CONFIG[FIO_SOURCE_DIR]="${i#*=}"
+			if [[ ${i#*=} != "$i" ]]; then
+				CONFIG[FIO_SOURCE_DIR]=$(readlink -f "${i#*=}")
+			fi
+			check_dir "--with-fio=${CONFIG[FIO_SOURCE_DIR]}"
 			CONFIG[FIO_PLUGIN]=y
 			;;
 		--without-fio)
-			CONFIG[FIO_SOURCE_DIR]=
 			CONFIG[FIO_PLUGIN]=n
 			;;
 		--with-vtune=*)
@@ -521,15 +523,6 @@ else
 	CONFIG[VIRTIO]="n"
 fi
 
-if [ "${CONFIG[FIO_PLUGIN]}" = "y" ]; then
-	if [ -z "${CONFIG[FIO_SOURCE_DIR]}" ]; then
-		echo "When fio is enabled, you must specify the fio directory using --with-fio=path"
-		exit 1
-	fi
-else
-	CONFIG[FIO_SOURCE_DIR]=
-fi
-
 if [ "${CONFIG[VTUNE]}" = "y" ]; then
 	if [ -z "${CONFIG[VTUNE_DIR]}" ]; then
 		echo "When VTune is enabled, you must specify the VTune directory using --with-vtune=path"