diff --git a/beetsplug/importfeeds.py b/beetsplug/importfeeds.py
index 294a03703..5dd9b06ce 100644
--- a/beetsplug/importfeeds.py
+++ b/beetsplug/importfeeds.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class ImportFeedsPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
 
         relative_to = self.config['relative_to'].get()
         if relative_to:
-            self.config['relative_to'] = os.path.expanduser(bytestring_path(relative_to))
+            self.config['relative_to'] = normpath(relative_to)
         else:
             self.config['relative_to'] = feeds_dir
 
@@ -85,8 +85,9 @@ def _record_items(lib, basename, items):
     """Records relative paths to the given items for each feed format
     """
     feedsdir = config['importfeeds']['dir'].as_filename()
-    relative_to = config['importfeeds']['relative_to'].as_filename()
     formats = config['importfeeds']['formats'].as_str_seq()
+    relative_to = config['importfeeds']['relative_to'].get() \
+            or config['importfeeds']['dir'].as_filename()
 
     paths = []
     for item in items:
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index d7008e4b5..dc54682af 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ It also adds some new features:
   :ref:`musicbrainz-config`.
 * You can now configure the similarity thresholds used to determine when the
   autotagger automatically accepts a metadata match. See :ref:`match-config`.
+* :doc:`/plugins/importfeeds`: Added a new configuration option that controls
+  the base for relative paths used in m3u files.
 
 1.0.0 (in development)
 ----------------------
diff --git a/docs/plugins/importfeeds.rst b/docs/plugins/importfeeds.rst
index bad3742c3..09b831246 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/importfeeds.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/importfeeds.rst
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ To use the plugin, just put ``importfeeds`` on the ``plugins`` line in your
 The ``dir`` configuration option can be set to specify another folder
 than the default library directory.
 
-the ``relative_to`` configuration option can be set to write the m3u paths
-relative to another folder than where the playlist is being written. If you are
-using importfeeds to genereate a playlist for mpd, you should set this to the
+The ``relative_to`` configuration option can be set to make the m3u paths
+relative to another folder than where the playlist is being written. If you're
+using importfeeds to generate a playlist for MPD, you should set this to the
 root of your music library.
 
 Three different types of outputs coexist, specify the ones you want to use by