diff --git a/autoload/vimtex/compiler/_template.vim b/autoload/vimtex/compiler/_template.vim
index f31cf38f28..28b5022c4f 100644
--- a/autoload/vimtex/compiler/_template.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimtex/compiler/_template.vim
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ function! s:compiler._create_build_dir(path) abort dict " {{{1
   call map(l:dirs, {_, x ->
         \ (vimtex#paths#is_abs(a:path) ? '' : self.file_info.root . '/')
         \ . a:path . '/' . x})
+  call map(l:dirs, {_, x -> simplify(x) })
   call filter(l:dirs, '!isdirectory(v:val)')
   if empty(l:dirs) | return | endif