diff --git a/examples/commander.yaml b/examples/commander.yaml
index 7eafe51f..b826dae5 100644
--- a/examples/commander.yaml
+++ b/examples/commander.yaml
@@ -28,5 +28,7 @@ tests:
 
   it should match file output:
     command: printf "line one\nline two"
+    config:
+      dir: examples/
     stdout:
-      file: ../../examples/_fixtures/output.txt
+      file: _fixtures/output.txt
diff --git a/pkg/matcher/matcher.go b/pkg/matcher/matcher.go
index 15d9f3d0..0cb5ce34 100644
--- a/pkg/matcher/matcher.go
+++ b/pkg/matcher/matcher.go
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ package matcher
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/antchfx/xmlquery"
-	"github.com/pmezard/go-difflib/difflib"
-	"github.com/tidwall/gjson"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/antchfx/xmlquery"
+	"github.com/pmezard/go-difflib/difflib"
+	"github.com/tidwall/gjson"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ const (
 var ReadFile = ioutil.ReadFile
 
 // NewMatcher creates a new matcher by type
-func NewMatcher(matcher string) Matcher {
+func NewMatcher(matcher string, workdir string) Matcher {
 	switch matcher {
 	case Text:
 		return TextMatcher{}
@@ -44,7 +46,9 @@ func NewMatcher(matcher string) Matcher {
 	case XML:
 		return XMLMatcher{}
 	case File:
-		return FileMatcher{}
+		return FileMatcher{
+			workdir: workdir,
+		}
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Validator '%s' does not exist!", matcher))
 	}
@@ -252,10 +256,11 @@ to be equal to
 // FileMatcher matches output captured from stdout or stderr
 // against the contents of a file
 type FileMatcher struct {
+	workdir string
 }
 
 func (m FileMatcher) Match(got interface{}, expected interface{}) MatcherResult {
-	expectedText, err := ReadFile(expected.(string))
+	expectedText, err := ReadFile(filepath.Join(m.workdir, expected.(string)))
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err.Error())
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/matcher/matcher_test.go b/pkg/matcher/matcher_test.go
index d085c0ec..c2a12659 100644
--- a/pkg/matcher/matcher_test.go
+++ b/pkg/matcher/matcher_test.go
@@ -1,25 +1,33 @@
 package matcher
 
 import (
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
 func Test_NewMatcher_Text(t *testing.T) {
-	got := NewMatcher(Text)
+	got := NewMatcher(Text, "")
 	assert.IsType(t, TextMatcher{}, got)
 }
 
 func Test_NewMatcher_Contains(t *testing.T) {
-	got := NewMatcher(Contains)
+	got := NewMatcher(Contains, "")
 	assert.IsType(t, ContainsMatcher{}, got)
 }
 
 func Test_NewMatcher_Equal(t *testing.T) {
-	got := NewMatcher(Equal)
+	got := NewMatcher(Equal, "")
 	assert.IsType(t, EqualMatcher{}, got)
 }
 
+func Test_NewMatcher_File(t *testing.T) {
+	workdir := "/foo/bar"
+	got := NewMatcher(File, workdir)
+	assert.IsType(t, FileMatcher{}, got)
+	assert.Equal(t, workdir, got.(FileMatcher).workdir)
+}
+
 func TestTextMatcher_Validate(t *testing.T) {
 	m := TextMatcher{}
 	got := m.Match("test", "test")
@@ -35,7 +43,7 @@ func TestNewMatcher_Fail(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.NotNil(t, r)
 	}()
 
-	_ = NewMatcher("no")
+	_ = NewMatcher("no", "")
 }
 
 func TestTextMatcher_ValidateFails(t *testing.T) {
@@ -73,7 +81,7 @@ func TestContainsMatcher_MatchFail(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestNewMatcher_NotContains(t *testing.T) {
-	m := NewMatcher(NotContains)
+	m := NewMatcher(NotContains, "")
 	assert.IsType(t, NotContainsMatcher{}, m)
 }
 
@@ -125,7 +133,7 @@ func TestXMLMatcher_DoesNotFindPath(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestXMLMatcher_MatchArray(t *testing.T) {
-	m := NewMatcher(XML)
+	m := NewMatcher(XML, "")
 	html := "<books><book>test1</book><book>test2</book></books>"
 
 	r := m.Match(html, map[string]string{"/books": "test1test2"})
@@ -169,7 +177,7 @@ func TestJSONMatcher_MatchArray(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestJSONMatcher_DoesNotMatch(t *testing.T) {
-	m := NewMatcher(JSON)
+	m := NewMatcher(JSON, "")
 	r := m.Match(`{"book": "another"}`, map[string]string{"book": "test"})
 
 	diff := `Expected json path "book" with result
diff --git a/pkg/runtime/validator.go b/pkg/runtime/validator.go
index 0c712ded..651e4ef9 100644
--- a/pkg/runtime/validator.go
+++ b/pkg/runtime/validator.go
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ package runtime
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/commander-cli/commander/pkg/matcher"
 	"log"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/commander-cli/commander/pkg/matcher"
 )
 
 // ValidationResult will be returned after the validation was executed
@@ -23,10 +24,10 @@ func newValidationResult(m matcher.MatcherResult) ValidationResult {
 // Validate validates the test results with the expected values
 // The test should hold the result and expected to validate the result
 func Validate(test TestCase) TestResult {
-	equalMatcher := matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Equal)
+	equalMatcher := matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Equal, "")
 
 	log.Println("title: '"+test.Title+"'", " Stdout-Expected: ", test.Expected.Stdout)
-	matcherResult := validateExpectedOut(test.Result.Stdout, test.Expected.Stdout)
+	matcherResult := validateExpectedOut(test.Result.Stdout, test.Expected.Stdout, test.Command.Dir)
 	log.Println("title: '"+test.Title+"'", " Stdout-Result: ", matcherResult.Success)
 	if !matcherResult.Success {
 		return TestResult{
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ func Validate(test TestCase) TestResult {
 	}
 
 	log.Println("title: '"+test.Title+"'", " Stderr-Expected: ", test.Expected.Stderr)
-	matcherResult = validateExpectedOut(test.Result.Stderr, test.Expected.Stderr)
+	matcherResult = validateExpectedOut(test.Result.Stderr, test.Expected.Stderr, test.Command.Dir)
 	log.Println("title: '"+test.Title+"'", " Stderr-Result: ", matcherResult.Success)
 	if !matcherResult.Success {
 		return TestResult{
@@ -64,19 +65,19 @@ func Validate(test TestCase) TestResult {
 	}
 }
 
-func validateExpectedOut(got string, expected ExpectedOut) matcher.MatcherResult {
+func validateExpectedOut(got string, expected ExpectedOut, workdir string) matcher.MatcherResult {
 	var m matcher.Matcher
 	var result matcher.MatcherResult
 	result.Success = true
 
 	if expected.Exactly != "" {
-		m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Text)
+		m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Text, "")
 		if result = m.Match(got, expected.Exactly); !result.Success {
 			return result
 		}
 	}
 
-	m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Contains)
+	m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Contains, "")
 	for _, c := range expected.Contains {
 		if result = m.Match(got, c); !result.Success {
 			return result
@@ -97,21 +98,21 @@ func validateExpectedOut(got string, expected ExpectedOut) matcher.MatcherResult
 		}
 	}
 
-	m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.NotContains)
+	m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.NotContains, "")
 	for _, c := range expected.NotContains {
 		if result = m.Match(got, c); !result.Success {
 			return result
 		}
 	}
 
-	m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.JSON)
+	m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.JSON, "")
 	for i, v := range expected.JSON {
 		if result = m.Match(got, map[string]string{i: v}); !result.Success {
 			return result
 		}
 	}
 
-	m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.XML)
+	m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.XML, "")
 	for i, v := range expected.XML {
 		if result = m.Match(got, map[string]string{i: v}); !result.Success {
 			return result
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ func validateExpectedOut(got string, expected ExpectedOut) matcher.MatcherResult
 	}
 
 	if expected.File != "" {
-		m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.File)
+		m = matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.File, workdir)
 		if result = m.Match(got, expected.File); !result.Success {
 			return result
 		}
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ func validateExpectedOut(got string, expected ExpectedOut) matcher.MatcherResult
 }
 
 func validateExpectedLineCount(got string, expected ExpectedOut) matcher.MatcherResult {
-	m := matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Equal)
+	m := matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Equal, "")
 	count := strings.Count(got, getLineBreak()) + 1
 
 	if got == "" {
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ func validateExpectedLineCount(got string, expected ExpectedOut) matcher.Matcher
 }
 
 func validateExpectedLines(got string, expected ExpectedOut) matcher.MatcherResult {
-	m := matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Equal)
+	m := matcher.NewMatcher(matcher.Equal, "")
 	actualLines := strings.Split(got, getLineBreak())
 	result := matcher.MatcherResult{Success: true}
 
diff --git a/pkg/runtime/validator_test.go b/pkg/runtime/validator_test.go
index fc632812..9926dd32 100644
--- a/pkg/runtime/validator_test.go
+++ b/pkg/runtime/validator_test.go
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 package runtime
 
 import (
-	"github.com/commander-cli/commander/pkg/matcher"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/commander-cli/commander/pkg/matcher"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
 func TestNewValidationResult(t *testing.T) {
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ func Test_ValidateExitCodeShouldFail(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_Contains_Fails(t *testing.T) {
 	value := `test`
 
-	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Contains: []string{"not-exists"}})
+	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Contains: []string{"not-exists"}}, "")
 
 	diff := `
 Expected
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ multi
 line
 output`
 
-	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Lines: map[int]string{1: "my", 3: "line"}})
+	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Lines: map[int]string{1: "my", 3: "line"}}, "")
 
 	assert.True(t, got.Success)
 	assert.Empty(t, got.Diff)
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ output`
 func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_MatchLines_ExpectedLineDoesNotExists(t *testing.T) {
 	value := `test`
 
-	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Lines: map[int]string{2: "my"}})
+	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Lines: map[int]string{2: "my"}}, "")
 
 	assert.False(t, got.Success)
 	diff := `Line number 2 does not exists in result: 
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_MatchLines_Fails(t *testing.T) {
 line 2
 line 3`
 
-	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Lines: map[int]string{2: "line 3"}})
+	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Lines: map[int]string{2: "line 3"}}, "")
 
 	assert.False(t, got.Success)
 	diff := `--- Got
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ line 3`
 func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_LineCount_Fails(t *testing.T) {
 	value := ``
 
-	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{LineCount: 2})
+	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{LineCount: 2}, "")
 
 	assert.False(t, got.Success)
 	diff := `--- Got
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_LineCount_Fails(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_NotContains_Fails(t *testing.T) {
 	value := `my string contains`
 
-	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{NotContains: []string{"contains"}})
+	got := validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{NotContains: []string{"contains"}}, "")
 
 	diff := `
 Expected
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_PanicIfLineDoesNotExist(t *testing.T) {
 	}()
 
 	value := `my`
-	_ = validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Lines: map[int]string{0: "my"}})
+	_ = validateExpectedOut(value, ExpectedOut{Lines: map[int]string{0: "my"}}, "")
 }
 
 func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_ValidateJSON(t *testing.T) {
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_ValidateJSON(t *testing.T) {
   }
 }
 `
-	r := validateExpectedOut(json, ExpectedOut{JSON: map[string]string{"object.attr": "test"}})
+	r := validateExpectedOut(json, ExpectedOut{JSON: map[string]string{"object.attr": "test"}}, "")
 	assert.True(t, r.Success)
 
 	diff := `Expected json path "object.attr" with result
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ no
 to be equal to
 
 test`
-	r = validateExpectedOut(json, ExpectedOut{JSON: map[string]string{"object.attr": "no"}})
+	r = validateExpectedOut(json, ExpectedOut{JSON: map[string]string{"object.attr": "no"}}, "")
 	assert.False(t, r.Success)
 	assert.Equal(t, diff, r.Diff)
 }
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_ValidateFile(t *testing.T) {
 	matcher.ReadFile = func(filename string) ([]byte, error) {
 		return []byte(content), nil
 	}
-	r := validateExpectedOut(content, ExpectedOut{File: "fake.txt"})
+	r := validateExpectedOut(content, ExpectedOut{File: "fake.txt"}, "")
 	assert.True(t, r.Success)
 	assert.Equal(t, "", r.Diff)
 
@@ -209,7 +210,7 @@ func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_ValidateFile(t *testing.T) {
 -line two
 `
 
-	r = validateExpectedOut(content+"\nline two", ExpectedOut{File: "fake.txt"})
+	r = validateExpectedOut(content+"\nline two", ExpectedOut{File: "fake.txt"}, "")
 	assert.False(t, r.Success)
 	assert.Equal(t, diff, r.Diff)
 
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ func Test_ValidateExpectedOut_ValidateXML(t *testing.T) {
   <author>J. R. R. Tolkien</author>
 </book>`
 
-	r := validateExpectedOut(xml, ExpectedOut{XML: map[string]string{"/book//author": "J. R. R. Tolkien"}})
+	r := validateExpectedOut(xml, ExpectedOut{XML: map[string]string{"/book//author": "J. R. R. Tolkien"}}, "")
 	assert.True(t, r.Success)
 	assert.Equal(t, "", r.Diff)
 
@@ -232,11 +233,11 @@ Joanne K. Rowling
 to be equal to
 
 J. R. R. Tolkien`
-	r = validateExpectedOut(xml, ExpectedOut{XML: map[string]string{"/book//author": "Joanne K. Rowling"}})
+	r = validateExpectedOut(xml, ExpectedOut{XML: map[string]string{"/book//author": "Joanne K. Rowling"}}, "")
 	assert.False(t, r.Success)
 	assert.Equal(t, diff, r.Diff)
 
-	r = validateExpectedOut(xml, ExpectedOut{XML: map[string]string{"/book//title": "J. R. R. Tolkien"}})
+	r = validateExpectedOut(xml, ExpectedOut{XML: map[string]string{"/book//title": "J. R. R. Tolkien"}}, "")
 	assert.False(t, r.Success)
 	assert.Equal(t, `Query "/book//title" did not match a path`, r.Diff)
 }