diff --git a/Source/cmSetCommand.cxx b/Source/cmSetCommand.cxx
index 00e1bc5cf0..c25065cf78 100644
--- a/Source/cmSetCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmSetCommand.cxx
@@ -126,6 +126,11 @@ bool cmSetCommand::InitialPass(std::vector<std::string>& args)
       return true;
       }
     }
+  // if value is a path, collapse it (cleaner)
+  if (type == cmCacheManager::PATH || type == cmCacheManager::FILEPATH) 
+    {
+    value = cmSystemTools::CollapseFullPath(value.c_str());
+    }
   // if it is meant to be in the cache then define it in the cache
   if(cache)
     {