diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/project.el b/lisp/progmodes/project.el
index 5dd10071a1c..fe8a765d194 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/project.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/project.el
@@ -1824,7 +1824,8 @@ With some possible metadata (to be decided).")
                (lambda (elem)
                  (let ((name (car elem)))
                    (list (if (file-remote-p name) name
-                           (abbreviate-file-name name)))))
+                           (file-name-as-directory
+                            (abbreviate-file-name name))))))
                (condition-case nil
                    (read (current-buffer))
                  (end-of-file