diff --git a/libs/openFrameworks/utils/ofUtils.cpp b/libs/openFrameworks/utils/ofUtils.cpp
index 892d7d83db6..cb42e171819 100644
--- a/libs/openFrameworks/utils/ofUtils.cpp
+++ b/libs/openFrameworks/utils/ofUtils.cpp
@@ -257,17 +257,40 @@ string ofToDataPath(string path, bool makeAbsolute){
 	if (!enableDataPath)
 		return path;
 	
+	// if our Current Working Directory has changed (e.g. file open dialog)
+	// this could be performed here, or wherever we might think we accidentally change the cwd
 	if (defaultWorkingDirectory().toString() != getWorkingDir().toString()) {
+		// change our cwd back to where it was on app load
 		chdir(defaultWorkingDirectory().toString().c_str());
 	}
 	
-	Poco::Path inputPath(dataPathRoot());
-	inputPath.resolve(path);
+	Poco::Path const  & dataPath(dataPathRoot());
+	Poco::Path inputPath(path);
+	Poco::Path outputPath;
+	
+	if (!inputPath.isAbsolute()) {
+		// here we check whether path already refers to the data folder by looking for common elements
+		// if the path begins with the full contents of dataPathRoot
+		// we compare inputPath.toString() rather that the input var path ensure common formatting against dataPathRoot.toString() to
+		
+		// strip trailing slash from datapath since `path` may be input as a file formatted path even if it is a folder (i.e. missing trailing slash)
+		string strippedDataPath = dataPath.toString();
+		strippedDataPath.resize(strippedDataPath.length() - 1);
+		
+		if (inputPath.toString().find(strippedDataPath) != 0) {
+			// inputPath doesn't contain data path already, so we add it
+			outputPath = dataPath;
+			outputPath.resolve(inputPath);
+		} else {
+			// inputPath does contain data path already, no need to change
+			outputPath = inputPath;
+		}
+	}
 	
 	if (makeAbsolute) {
-		return inputPath.absolute().toString();
+		return outputPath.absolute().toString();
 	} else {
-		return inputPath.toString();
+		return outputPath.toString();
 	}
 }