diff --git a/src/mkdocstrings_handlers/python/handler.py b/src/mkdocstrings_handlers/python/handler.py
index 0aac3cdc..628b56ec 100644
--- a/src/mkdocstrings_handlers/python/handler.py
+++ b/src/mkdocstrings_handlers/python/handler.py
@@ -469,11 +469,9 @@ def normalize_extension_paths(self, extensions: Sequence) -> Sequence:
                 pth = str(ext)
                 options = None
 
-            if pth.endswith(".py") or ".py:" in pth or "/" in pth or "\\" in pth:  # noqa: SIM102
-                # This is a sytem path. Normalize it.
-                if not os.path.isabs(pth):
-                    # Make path absolute relative to config file path.
-                    pth = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(base_path, pth))
+            if pth.endswith(".py") or ".py:" in pth or "/" in pth or "\\" in pth:
+                # This is a system path. Normalize it, make it absolute relative to config file path.
+                pth = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(base_path, pth))
 
             if options is not None:
                 normalized.append({pth: options})
diff --git a/tests/test_handler.py b/tests/test_handler.py
index 0717dc48..6c2381db 100644
--- a/tests/test_handler.py
+++ b/tests/test_handler.py
@@ -119,10 +119,11 @@ def test_expand_globs_without_changing_directory() -> None:
         (True, {"extension.py:SomeExtension": {"option": "value"}}),
         (True, {"path/to/extension.py": {"option": "value"}}),
         (True, {"path/to/extension.py:SomeExtension": {"option": "value"}}),
-        (False, "/absolute/path/to/extension.py"),
-        (False, "/absolute/path/to/extension.py:SomeExtension"),
-        (False, {"/absolute/path/to/extension.py": {"option": "value"}}),
-        (False, {"/absolute/path/to/extension.py:SomeExtension": {"option": "value"}}),
+        # True because OS path normalization.
+        (True, "/absolute/path/to/extension.py"),
+        (True, "/absolute/path/to/extension.py:SomeExtension"),
+        (True, {"/absolute/path/to/extension.py": {"option": "value"}}),
+        (True, {"/absolute/path/to/extension.py:SomeExtension": {"option": "value"}}),
         (False, "dot.notation.path.to.extension"),
         (False, "dot.notation.path.to.pyextension"),
         (False, {"dot.notation.path.to.extension": {"option": "value"}}),