diff --git a/kiplot/optionable.py b/kiplot/optionable.py
index 5483e646..fa0667ac 100644
--- a/kiplot/optionable.py
+++ b/kiplot/optionable.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class Optionable(object):
         attrs = self.get_attrs_for()
         return ((k, v) for k, v in attrs.items() if k[0] != '_')
 
-    def expand_filename(self, name, id='', ext=''):
+    def expand_filename(self, out_dir, name, id='', ext=''):
         """ Expands %x values in filenames """
         if GS.board:
             # This is based on InterativeHtmlBom expansion
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class Optionable(object):
             # sanitize the name to avoid characters illegal in file systems
             name = name.replace('\\', '/')
             name = re.sub(r'[?%*:|"<>]', '_', name)
-        return name
+        return os.path.abspath(os.path.join(out_dir, name))
 
 
 class BaseOptions(Optionable):
diff --git a/kiplot/out_any_drill.py b/kiplot/out_any_drill.py
index a6c9cf2e..c7671ead 100644
--- a/kiplot/out_any_drill.py
+++ b/kiplot/out_any_drill.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class DrillReport(Optionable):
         super().__init__()
         with document:
             self.filename = ''
-            """ name of the drill report. Not generated unless a name is specified """  # pragma: no cover
+            """ name of the drill report. Not generated unless a name is specified. (%i='drill' %x='txt') """  # pragma: no cover
         self._unkown_is_error = True
 
 
@@ -80,6 +80,6 @@ class AnyDrill(BaseOptions):
         drill_writer.CreateDrillandMapFilesSet(output_dir, True, gen_map)
 
         if self.report:
-            drill_report_file = os.path.join(output_dir, self.report)
+            drill_report_file = self.expand_filename(output_dir, self.report, 'drill', 'txt')
             logger.debug("Generating drill report: "+drill_report_file)
             drill_writer.GenDrillReportFile(drill_report_file)
diff --git a/kiplot/out_any_layer.py b/kiplot/out_any_layer.py
index 129a4218..6d0d1765 100644
--- a/kiplot/out_any_layer.py
+++ b/kiplot/out_any_layer.py
@@ -83,8 +83,7 @@ class AnyLayerOptions(BaseOptions):
 
             k_filename = plot_ctrl.GetPlotFileName()
             if self.output:
-                filename = self.expand_filename(self.output, suffix, os.path.splitext(k_filename)[1][1:])
-                filename = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(output_dir, filename))
+                filename = self.expand_filename(output_dir, self.output, suffix, os.path.splitext(k_filename)[1][1:])
             else:
                 filename = k_filename
             logger.debug("Plotting layer `{}` to `{}`".format(l, filename))
@@ -96,8 +95,7 @@ class AnyLayerOptions(BaseOptions):
                 jobfile_writer.AddGbrFile(id, os.path.basename(filename))
 
         if create_job:
-            job_fn = self.expand_filename(po.gerber_job_file, 'job', 'gbrjob')
-            jobfile_writer.CreateJobFile(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(output_dir, job_fn)))
+            jobfile_writer.CreateJobFile(self.expand_filename(output_dir, po.gerber_job_file, 'job', 'gbrjob'))
 
     def read_vals_from_po(self, po):
         # excludeedgelayer
diff --git a/kiplot/out_pcbdraw.py b/kiplot/out_pcbdraw.py
index 0a344f04..b43f0c34 100644
--- a/kiplot/out_pcbdraw.py
+++ b/kiplot/out_pcbdraw.py
@@ -173,8 +173,7 @@ class PcbDrawOptions(BaseOptions):
 
     def run(self, output_dir, board):
         # Output file name
-        output = self.expand_filename(self.output, 'bottom' if self.bottom else 'top', self.format)
-        output = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(output_dir, output))
+        output = self.expand_filename(output_dir, self.output, 'bottom' if self.bottom else 'top', self.format)
         # Base command with overwrite
         cmd = [PCBDRAW]
         # Add user options