diff --git a/runtime/src/runtime/process.py b/runtime/src/runtime/process.py
index 68d1b10..ccf40d9 100644
--- a/runtime/src/runtime/process.py
+++ b/runtime/src/runtime/process.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ def _bump_last_used(record: JupyterProcessRecord) -> None:
 
 async def start_workspace(ws_id: str) -> dict:
     async with get_workspace_lock(ws_id):
-        workspace_path = WORKSPACES_ROOT / ws_id
+        workspace_path = (WORKSPACES_ROOT / ws_id).resolve()
         workspace_path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
         if ws_id in JUPYTER_PROCESSES:
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ async def start_workspace(ws_id: str) -> dict:
             "--allow-root",
             f"--ServerApp.token={token}",
             f"--ServerApp.base_url={base_path}",
-            "--notebook-dir=.",
+            f"--notebook-dir={workspace_path}",
             "--ServerApp.terminals_enabled=False",
             "--NotebookApp.terminals_enabled=False",
             "--ServerApp.allow_origin=*",
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ async def start_workspace(ws_id: str) -> dict:
         ]
 
         try:
-            process, log_file = start_process(cmd, workspace_path)
+            process, log_file = start_process(cmd, workspace_path.as_posix())
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"Failed to start Jupyter for {ws_id}: {e}")
             raise HTTPException(