diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/compile.el b/lisp/progmodes/compile.el
index 12b866ce3d8..7bb2c95ff90 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/compile.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/compile.el
@@ -507,8 +507,7 @@ Does NOT find the source line like \\[next-error]."
   (setq data (cdr data))
   (if (markerp data)
       (buffer-file-name (marker-buffer data))
-    (setq data (car data))
-    (expand-file-name (cdr data) (car data))))
+    (car data)))
 
 (defun compilation-next-file (n)
   "Move point to the next error for a different file than the current one."