diff --git a/packaging/language/npm.py b/packaging/language/npm.py
index b0882ddec08..53ce1e77c5e 100644
--- a/packaging/language/npm.py
+++ b/packaging/language/npm.py
@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ class Npm(object):
             #If path is specified, cd into that path and run the command.
             cwd = None
             if self.path:
-                self.path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(self.path))
                 if not os.path.exists(self.path):
                     os.makedirs(self.path)
                 if not os.path.isdir(self.path):
@@ -212,10 +211,10 @@ class Npm(object):
 def main():
     arg_spec = dict(
         name=dict(default=None),
-        path=dict(default=None),
+        path=dict(default=None, type='path'),
         version=dict(default=None),
         production=dict(default='no', type='bool'),
-        executable=dict(default=None),
+        executable=dict(default=None, type='path'),
         registry=dict(default=None),
         state=dict(default='present', choices=['present', 'absent', 'latest']),
         ignore_scripts=dict(default=False, type='bool'),