diff --git a/src/trace_link/trace_linker.py b/src/trace_link/trace_linker.py
index 4f45178f..af158f45 100644
--- a/src/trace_link/trace_linker.py
+++ b/src/trace_link/trace_linker.py
@@ -440,7 +440,9 @@ def load_sync_dependencies(
                 that have synchronization dependencies.
         """
         sync_dependencies = {}
-        trace_analysis = TraceAnalysis(trace_dir=os.path.dirname(kineto_file))
+        absolute_kineto_file = os.path.abspath(kineto_file)
+        trace_dir = os.path.dirname(absolute_kineto_file)
+        trace_analysis = TraceAnalysis(trace_dir=trace_dir)
         cp_graph, success = trace_analysis.critical_path_analysis(
             rank=rank, annotation=annotation, instance_id=instance_id
         )