diff --git a/beetsplug/play.py b/beetsplug/play.py
index 8477acbfc..4d32a3576 100644
--- a/beetsplug/play.py
+++ b/beetsplug/play.py
@@ -116,10 +116,11 @@ class PlayPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         else:
             selection = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
             paths = [item.path for item in selection]
-            if relative_to:
-                paths = [relpath(path, relative_to) for path in paths]
             item_type = 'track'
 
+        if relative_to:
+            paths = [relpath(path, relative_to) for path in paths]
+
         if not selection:
             ui.print_(ui.colorize('text_warning',
                                   u'No {0} to play.'.format(item_type)))