diff --git a/Unreal/Plugins/AirSim/Source/SimHUD/SimHUD.cpp b/Unreal/Plugins/AirSim/Source/SimHUD/SimHUD.cpp
index 29a004461f..c6ab290a38 100644
--- a/Unreal/Plugins/AirSim/Source/SimHUD/SimHUD.cpp
+++ b/Unreal/Plugins/AirSim/Source/SimHUD/SimHUD.cpp
@@ -354,7 +354,11 @@ void ASimHUD::initializeSubWindows()
 
 }
 
-
+FString ASimHUD::getAbsProjectDir()
+{
+    FString project_rel_path = FPaths::ProjectDir();
+    return IFileManager::Get().ConvertToAbsolutePathForExternalAppForRead(*project_rel_path);
+}
 
 // Attempts to parse the settings text from one of multiple locations.
 // First, check the command line for settings provided via "-s" or "--settings" arguments
@@ -368,7 +372,7 @@ bool ASimHUD::getSettingsText(std::string& settingsText)
         ||
         readSettingsTextFromFile(FString(msr::airlib::Settings::getExecutableFullPath("settings.json").c_str()), settingsText)
         ||
-        readSettingsTextFromFile(FPaths::Combine(FPaths::ProjectDir(), FString("settings.json")), settingsText)
+        readSettingsTextFromFile(FPaths::Combine(getAbsProjectDir(), FString("settings.json")), settingsText)
         ||
         readSettingsTextFromFile(FString(msr::airlib::Settings::Settings::getUserDirectoryFullPath("settings.json").c_str()), settingsText));
 }
diff --git a/Unreal/Plugins/AirSim/Source/SimHUD/SimHUD.h b/Unreal/Plugins/AirSim/Source/SimHUD/SimHUD.h
index 4b0f6bd69e..1f07e2c31a 100644
--- a/Unreal/Plugins/AirSim/Source/SimHUD/SimHUD.h
+++ b/Unreal/Plugins/AirSim/Source/SimHUD/SimHUD.h
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ class AIRSIM_API ASimHUD : public AHUD
     bool readSettingsTextFromFile(const FString& fileName, std::string& settingsText);
     std::string getSimModeFromUser();
 
+    static FString getAbsProjectDir();
+
 private:
     typedef common_utils::Utils Utils;
     UClass* widget_class_;