diff --git a/maca_common/src/programOptionsTemplates.cpp b/maca_common/src/programOptionsTemplates.cpp
index 61bb390220f42390fdc57a61c87f0ef641822046..98366f3fbde64ab064c4c1f72cae57054c0e1d53 100644
--- a/maca_common/src/programOptionsTemplates.cpp
+++ b/maca_common/src/programOptionsTemplates.cpp
@@ -173,7 +173,11 @@ void updatePaths()
   ProgramParameters::templatePath = ProgramParameters::langPath + ProgramParameters::templateName + slash;
   ProgramParameters::tmFilename = ProgramParameters::expPath + ProgramParameters::tmName;
   ProgramParameters::bdFilename = ProgramParameters::expPath + ProgramParameters::bdName;
-  ProgramParameters::mcdFilename = ProgramParameters::expPath + ProgramParameters::mcdName;
+
+  if (ProgramParameters::mcdName[0] == '/' || ProgramParameters::mcdName[0] == '~')
+    ProgramParameters::mcdFilename = ProgramParameters::mcdName;
+  else
+    ProgramParameters::mcdFilename = ProgramParameters::expPath + ProgramParameters::mcdName;
   if (ProgramParameters::trainName[0] == '/' || ProgramParameters::trainName[0] == '~')
     ProgramParameters::trainFilename = ProgramParameters::trainName;
   else