diff --git a/gdb/Makefile.in b/gdb/Makefile.in
index 1c58b9270d..19be64f226 100644
--- a/gdb/Makefile.in
+++ b/gdb/Makefile.in
@@ -955,6 +955,7 @@ COMMON_SFILES = \
 	common/gdb_tilde_expand.c \
 	common/gdb_vecs.c \
 	common/new-op.c \
+	common/pathstuff.c \
 	common/print-utils.c \
 	common/ptid.c \
 	common/rsp-low.c \
@@ -1429,6 +1430,7 @@ HFILES_NO_SRCDIR = \
 	common/gdb_wait.h \
 	common/common-inferior.h \
 	common/host-defs.h \
+	common/pathstuff.h \
 	common/print-utils.h \
 	common/ptid.h \
 	common/queue.h \
diff --git a/gdb/auto-load.c b/gdb/auto-load.c
index b79341faf6..9dd8754e1a 100644
--- a/gdb/auto-load.c
+++ b/gdb/auto-load.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "extension.h"
 #include "gdb/section-scripts.h"
 #include <algorithm>
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 /* The section to look in for auto-loaded scripts (in file formats that
    support sections).
diff --git a/gdb/common/common-defs.h b/gdb/common/common-defs.h
index acbc32ca69..881a4eaaff 100644
--- a/gdb/common/common-defs.h
+++ b/gdb/common/common-defs.h
@@ -91,4 +91,7 @@
 /* Pull in gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr.  */
 #include "common/gdb_unique_ptr.h"
 
+/* String containing the current directory (what getwd would return).  */
+extern char *current_directory;
+
 #endif /* COMMON_DEFS_H */
diff --git a/gdb/common/gdb_tilde_expand.c b/gdb/common/gdb_tilde_expand.c
index b4f371464d..fcb97961ac 100644
--- a/gdb/common/gdb_tilde_expand.c
+++ b/gdb/common/gdb_tilde_expand.c
@@ -80,3 +80,16 @@ gdb_tilde_expand (const char *dir)
 
   return expanded_dir;
 }
+
+/* See common/gdb_tilde_expand.h.  */
+
+gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
+gdb_tilde_expand_up (const char *dir)
+{
+  gdb_glob glob (dir, GLOB_TILDE_CHECK, NULL);
+
+  gdb_assert (glob.pathc () > 0);
+  /* "glob" may return more than one match to the path provided by the
+     user, but we are only interested in the first match.  */
+  return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (glob.pathv ()[0]));
+}
diff --git a/gdb/common/gdb_tilde_expand.h b/gdb/common/gdb_tilde_expand.h
index d0dfb37857..22860d3969 100644
--- a/gdb/common/gdb_tilde_expand.h
+++ b/gdb/common/gdb_tilde_expand.h
@@ -24,4 +24,8 @@
    the full path.  */
 extern std::string gdb_tilde_expand (const char *dir);
 
+/* Same as GDB_TILDE_EXPAND, but return the full path as a
+   gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>.  */
+extern gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> gdb_tilde_expand_up (const char *dir);
+
 #endif /* ! GDB_TILDE_EXPAND_H */
diff --git a/gdb/common/pathstuff.c b/gdb/common/pathstuff.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..02f6e44794
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gdb/common/pathstuff.c
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+/* Path manipulation routines for GDB and gdbserver.
+
+   Copyright (C) 1986-2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+   This file is part of GDB.
+
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
+
+#include "common-defs.h"
+#include "pathstuff.h"
+#include "host-defs.h"
+#include "filenames.h"
+#include "gdb_tilde_expand.h"
+
+/* See common/pathstuff.h.  */
+
+gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
+gdb_realpath (const char *filename)
+{
+/* On most hosts, we rely on canonicalize_file_name to compute
+   the FILENAME's realpath.
+
+   But the situation is slightly more complex on Windows, due to some
+   versions of GCC which were reported to generate paths where
+   backlashes (the directory separator) were doubled.  For instance:
+      c:\\some\\double\\slashes\\dir
+   ... instead of ...
+      c:\some\double\slashes\dir
+   Those double-slashes were getting in the way when comparing paths,
+   for instance when trying to insert a breakpoint as follow:
+      (gdb) b c:/some/double/slashes/dir/foo.c:4
+      No source file named c:/some/double/slashes/dir/foo.c:4.
+      (gdb) b c:\some\double\slashes\dir\foo.c:4
+      No source file named c:\some\double\slashes\dir\foo.c:4.
+   To prevent this from happening, we need this function to always
+   strip those extra backslashes.  While canonicalize_file_name does
+   perform this simplification, it only works when the path is valid.
+   Since the simplification would be useful even if the path is not
+   valid (one can always set a breakpoint on a file, even if the file
+   does not exist locally), we rely instead on GetFullPathName to
+   perform the canonicalization.  */
+
+#if defined (_WIN32)
+  {
+    char buf[MAX_PATH];
+    DWORD len = GetFullPathName (filename, MAX_PATH, buf, NULL);
+
+    /* The file system is case-insensitive but case-preserving.
+       So it is important we do not lowercase the path.  Otherwise,
+       we might not be able to display the original casing in a given
+       path.  */
+    if (len > 0 && len < MAX_PATH)
+      return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (buf));
+  }
+#else
+  {
+    char *rp = canonicalize_file_name (filename);
+
+    if (rp != NULL)
+      return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (rp);
+  }
+#endif
+
+  /* This system is a lost cause, just dup the buffer.  */
+  return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (filename));
+}
+
+/* See common/pathstuff.h.  */
+
+gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
+gdb_realpath_keepfile (const char *filename)
+{
+  const char *base_name = lbasename (filename);
+  char *dir_name;
+  char *result;
+
+  /* Extract the basename of filename, and return immediately
+     a copy of filename if it does not contain any directory prefix.  */
+  if (base_name == filename)
+    return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (filename));
+
+  dir_name = (char *) alloca ((size_t) (base_name - filename + 2));
+  /* Allocate enough space to store the dir_name + plus one extra
+     character sometimes needed under Windows (see below), and
+     then the closing \000 character.  */
+  strncpy (dir_name, filename, base_name - filename);
+  dir_name[base_name - filename] = '\000';
+
+#ifdef HAVE_DOS_BASED_FILE_SYSTEM
+  /* We need to be careful when filename is of the form 'd:foo', which
+     is equivalent of d:./foo, which is totally different from d:/foo.  */
+  if (strlen (dir_name) == 2 && isalpha (dir_name[0]) && dir_name[1] == ':')
+    {
+      dir_name[2] = '.';
+      dir_name[3] = '\000';
+    }
+#endif
+
+  /* Canonicalize the directory prefix, and build the resulting
+     filename.  If the dirname realpath already contains an ending
+     directory separator, avoid doubling it.  */
+  gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> path_storage = gdb_realpath (dir_name);
+  const char *real_path = path_storage.get ();
+  if (IS_DIR_SEPARATOR (real_path[strlen (real_path) - 1]))
+    result = concat (real_path, base_name, (char *) NULL);
+  else
+    result = concat (real_path, SLASH_STRING, base_name, (char *) NULL);
+
+  return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (result);
+}
+
+/* See common/pathstuff.h.  */
+
+gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
+gdb_abspath (const char *path)
+{
+  gdb_assert (path != NULL && path[0] != '\0');
+
+  if (path[0] == '~')
+    return gdb_tilde_expand_up (path);
+
+  if (IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH (path))
+    return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (path));
+
+  /* Beware the // my son, the Emacs barfs, the botch that catch...  */
+  return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
+    (concat (current_directory,
+	     IS_DIR_SEPARATOR (current_directory[strlen (current_directory) - 1])
+	     ? "" : SLASH_STRING,
+	     path, (char *) NULL));
+}
diff --git a/gdb/common/pathstuff.h b/gdb/common/pathstuff.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3cb02c86d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gdb/common/pathstuff.h
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+/* Path manipulation routines for GDB and gdbserver.
+
+   Copyright (C) 1986-2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+   This file is part of GDB.
+
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
+
+#ifndef PATHSTUFF_H
+#define PATHSTUFF_H
+
+/* Path utilities.  */
+
+/* Return the real path of FILENAME, expanding all the symbolic links.
+
+   Contrary to "gdb_abspath", this function does not use
+   CURRENT_DIRECTORY for path expansion.  Instead, it relies on the
+   current working directory (CWD) of GDB or gdbserver.  */
+
+extern gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> gdb_realpath (const char *filename);
+
+/* Return a copy of FILENAME, with its directory prefix canonicalized
+   by gdb_realpath.  */
+
+extern gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
+  gdb_realpath_keepfile (const char *filename);
+
+/* Return PATH in absolute form, performing tilde-expansion if necessary.
+   PATH cannot be NULL or the empty string.
+   This does not resolve symlinks however, use gdb_realpath for that.
+
+   Contrary to "gdb_realpath", this function uses CURRENT_DIRECTORY
+   for the path expansion.  This may lead to scenarios the current
+   working directory (CWD) is different than CURRENT_DIRECTORY.  */
+
+extern gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> gdb_abspath (const char *path);
+
+#endif /* PATHSTUFF_H */
diff --git a/gdb/compile/compile.c b/gdb/compile/compile.c
index 70c4570de7..7f35272872 100644
--- a/gdb/compile/compile.c
+++ b/gdb/compile/compile.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "valprint.h"
 #include "common/gdb_optional.h"
 #include "common/gdb_unlinker.h"
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 
 
diff --git a/gdb/defs.h b/gdb/defs.h
index c85bf2cf11..a924573b57 100644
--- a/gdb/defs.h
+++ b/gdb/defs.h
@@ -402,10 +402,6 @@ enum info_proc_what
     IP_ALL
   };
 
-/* * String containing the current directory (what getwd would return).  */
-
-extern char *current_directory;
-
 /* * Default radixes for input and output.  Only some values supported.  */
 extern unsigned input_radix;
 extern unsigned output_radix;
diff --git a/gdb/dwarf2read.c b/gdb/dwarf2read.c
index 1e4376e4de..9825117fa7 100644
--- a/gdb/dwarf2read.c
+++ b/gdb/dwarf2read.c
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@
 #include <set>
 #include <forward_list>
 #include "rust-lang.h"
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 /* When == 1, print basic high level tracing messages.
    When > 1, be more verbose.
diff --git a/gdb/exec.c b/gdb/exec.c
index 0b4237ff63..6b910e8f54 100644
--- a/gdb/exec.c
+++ b/gdb/exec.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include "solist.h"
 #include <algorithm>
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 void (*deprecated_file_changed_hook) (const char *);
 
diff --git a/gdb/gdbserver/Makefile.in b/gdb/gdbserver/Makefile.in
index 2dbf9ae63d..f2936920fe 100644
--- a/gdb/gdbserver/Makefile.in
+++ b/gdb/gdbserver/Makefile.in
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ SFILES = \
 	$(srcdir)/common/gdb_tilde_expand.c \
 	$(srcdir)/common/gdb_vecs.c \
 	$(srcdir)/common/new-op.c \
+	$(srcdir)/common/pathstuff.c \
 	$(srcdir)/common/print-utils.c \
 	$(srcdir)/common/ptid.c \
 	$(srcdir)/common/rsp-low.c \
@@ -249,6 +250,7 @@ OBS = \
 	common/gdb_tilde_expand.o \
 	common/gdb_vecs.o \
 	common/new-op.o \
+	common/pathstuff.o \
 	common/print-utils.o \
 	common/ptid.o \
 	common/rsp-low.o \
diff --git a/gdb/gdbserver/server.c b/gdb/gdbserver/server.c
index cb02b58507..922d5269b3 100644
--- a/gdb/gdbserver/server.c
+++ b/gdb/gdbserver/server.c
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@
       break;					\
     }
 
+/* String containing the current directory (what getwd would return).  */
+
+char *current_directory;
+
 /* The environment to pass to the inferior when creating it.  */
 
 static gdb_environ our_environ;
@@ -3539,6 +3543,13 @@ captured_main (int argc, char *argv[])
   const char *selftest_filter = NULL;
 #endif
 
+  current_directory = getcwd (NULL, 0);
+  if (current_directory == NULL)
+    {
+      error (_("%s: error finding working directory"),
+	     safe_strerror (errno));
+    }
+
   while (*next_arg != NULL && **next_arg == '-')
     {
       if (strcmp (*next_arg, "--version") == 0)
diff --git a/gdb/guile/scm-safe-call.c b/gdb/guile/scm-safe-call.c
index a9ce7b72c1..2cba399e23 100644
--- a/gdb/guile/scm-safe-call.c
+++ b/gdb/guile/scm-safe-call.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "defs.h"
 #include "filenames.h"
 #include "guile-internal.h"
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 /* Struct to marshall args to scscm_safe_call_body.  */
 
diff --git a/gdb/linux-thread-db.c b/gdb/linux-thread-db.c
index 5ba4c03df6..10c85f56ad 100644
--- a/gdb/linux-thread-db.c
+++ b/gdb/linux-thread-db.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include <ctype.h>
 #include "nat/linux-namespaces.h"
 #include <algorithm>
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 /* GNU/Linux libthread_db support.
 
diff --git a/gdb/main.c b/gdb/main.c
index 3c98787edb..189266f90e 100644
--- a/gdb/main.c
+++ b/gdb/main.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "infrun.h"
 #include "signals-state-save-restore.h"
 #include <vector>
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 /* The selected interpreter.  This will be used as a set command
    variable, so it should always be malloc'ed - since
diff --git a/gdb/nto-tdep.c b/gdb/nto-tdep.c
index 8eb864b871..82a4fcbbb9 100644
--- a/gdb/nto-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/nto-tdep.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "gdbcore.h"
 #include "objfiles.h"
 #include "source.h"
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 #define QNX_NOTE_NAME	"QNX"
 #define QNX_INFO_SECT_NAME "QNX_info"
diff --git a/gdb/objfiles.c b/gdb/objfiles.c
index 70e369b8b4..a9aaf89540 100644
--- a/gdb/objfiles.c
+++ b/gdb/objfiles.c
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 #include "solist.h"
 #include "gdb_bfd.h"
 #include "btrace.h"
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 #include <vector>
 
diff --git a/gdb/source.c b/gdb/source.c
index 8a27b2e666..04ee3b33d2 100644
--- a/gdb/source.c
+++ b/gdb/source.c
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #include "readline/readline.h"
 #include "common/enum-flags.h"
 #include <algorithm>
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 #define OPEN_MODE (O_RDONLY | O_BINARY)
 #define FDOPEN_MODE FOPEN_RB
diff --git a/gdb/symtab.c b/gdb/symtab.c
index 0fd3f3a30f..567195304f 100644
--- a/gdb/symtab.c
+++ b/gdb/symtab.c
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 #include "filename-seen-cache.h"
 #include "arch-utils.h"
 #include <algorithm>
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 /* Forward declarations for local functions.  */
 
diff --git a/gdb/utils.c b/gdb/utils.c
index c531748fe4..577f9df4ec 100644
--- a/gdb/utils.c
+++ b/gdb/utils.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@
 #include "common/gdb_optional.h"
 #include "cp-support.h"
 #include <algorithm>
+#include "common/pathstuff.h"
 
 #if !HAVE_DECL_MALLOC
 extern PTR malloc ();		/* ARI: PTR */
@@ -2838,57 +2839,6 @@ string_to_core_addr (const char *my_string)
   return addr;
 }
 
-gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
-gdb_realpath (const char *filename)
-{
-/* On most hosts, we rely on canonicalize_file_name to compute
-   the FILENAME's realpath.
-
-   But the situation is slightly more complex on Windows, due to some
-   versions of GCC which were reported to generate paths where
-   backlashes (the directory separator) were doubled.  For instance:
-      c:\\some\\double\\slashes\\dir
-   ... instead of ...
-      c:\some\double\slashes\dir
-   Those double-slashes were getting in the way when comparing paths,
-   for instance when trying to insert a breakpoint as follow:
-      (gdb) b c:/some/double/slashes/dir/foo.c:4
-      No source file named c:/some/double/slashes/dir/foo.c:4.
-      (gdb) b c:\some\double\slashes\dir\foo.c:4
-      No source file named c:\some\double\slashes\dir\foo.c:4.
-   To prevent this from happening, we need this function to always
-   strip those extra backslashes.  While canonicalize_file_name does
-   perform this simplification, it only works when the path is valid.
-   Since the simplification would be useful even if the path is not
-   valid (one can always set a breakpoint on a file, even if the file
-   does not exist locally), we rely instead on GetFullPathName to
-   perform the canonicalization.  */
-
-#if defined (_WIN32)
-  {
-    char buf[MAX_PATH];
-    DWORD len = GetFullPathName (filename, MAX_PATH, buf, NULL);
-
-    /* The file system is case-insensitive but case-preserving.
-       So it is important we do not lowercase the path.  Otherwise,
-       we might not be able to display the original casing in a given
-       path.  */
-    if (len > 0 && len < MAX_PATH)
-      return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (buf));
-  }
-#else
-  {
-    char *rp = canonicalize_file_name (filename);
-
-    if (rp != NULL)
-      return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (rp);
-  }
-#endif
-
-  /* This system is a lost cause, just dup the buffer.  */
-  return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (filename));
-}
-
 #if GDB_SELF_TEST
 
 static void
@@ -2925,74 +2875,6 @@ gdb_realpath_tests ()
 
 #endif /* GDB_SELF_TEST */
 
-/* Return a copy of FILENAME, with its directory prefix canonicalized
-   by gdb_realpath.  */
-
-gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
-gdb_realpath_keepfile (const char *filename)
-{
-  const char *base_name = lbasename (filename);
-  char *dir_name;
-  char *result;
-
-  /* Extract the basename of filename, and return immediately 
-     a copy of filename if it does not contain any directory prefix.  */
-  if (base_name == filename)
-    return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (filename));
-
-  dir_name = (char *) alloca ((size_t) (base_name - filename + 2));
-  /* Allocate enough space to store the dir_name + plus one extra
-     character sometimes needed under Windows (see below), and
-     then the closing \000 character.  */
-  strncpy (dir_name, filename, base_name - filename);
-  dir_name[base_name - filename] = '\000';
-
-#ifdef HAVE_DOS_BASED_FILE_SYSTEM
-  /* We need to be careful when filename is of the form 'd:foo', which
-     is equivalent of d:./foo, which is totally different from d:/foo.  */
-  if (strlen (dir_name) == 2 && isalpha (dir_name[0]) && dir_name[1] == ':')
-    {
-      dir_name[2] = '.';
-      dir_name[3] = '\000';
-    }
-#endif
-
-  /* Canonicalize the directory prefix, and build the resulting
-     filename.  If the dirname realpath already contains an ending
-     directory separator, avoid doubling it.  */
-  gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> path_storage = gdb_realpath (dir_name);
-  const char *real_path = path_storage.get ();
-  if (IS_DIR_SEPARATOR (real_path[strlen (real_path) - 1]))
-    result = concat (real_path, base_name, (char *) NULL);
-  else
-    result = concat (real_path, SLASH_STRING, base_name, (char *) NULL);
-
-  return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (result);
-}
-
-/* Return PATH in absolute form, performing tilde-expansion if necessary.
-   PATH cannot be NULL or the empty string.
-   This does not resolve symlinks however, use gdb_realpath for that.  */
-
-gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
-gdb_abspath (const char *path)
-{
-  gdb_assert (path != NULL && path[0] != '\0');
-
-  if (path[0] == '~')
-    return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (tilde_expand (path));
-
-  if (IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH (path))
-    return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> (xstrdup (path));
-
-  /* Beware the // my son, the Emacs barfs, the botch that catch...  */
-  return gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char>
-    (concat (current_directory,
-	     IS_DIR_SEPARATOR (current_directory[strlen (current_directory) - 1])
-	     ? "" : SLASH_STRING,
-	     path, (char *) NULL));
-}
-
 ULONGEST
 align_up (ULONGEST v, int n)
 {
diff --git a/gdb/utils.h b/gdb/utils.h
index b234762929..8ca3eb0369 100644
--- a/gdb/utils.h
+++ b/gdb/utils.h
@@ -295,12 +295,6 @@ extern struct cleanup *make_bpstat_clear_actions_cleanup (void);
 
 /* Path utilities.  */
 
-extern gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> gdb_realpath (const char *);
-
-extern gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> gdb_realpath_keepfile (const char *);
-
-extern gdb::unique_xmalloc_ptr<char> gdb_abspath (const char *);
-
 extern int gdb_filename_fnmatch (const char *pattern, const char *string,
 				 int flags);
 
