diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/BaseCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/BaseCommand.php
index ba48921eb41e..8e81d2f66a58 100755
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/BaseCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/BaseCommand.php
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@ class BaseCommand extends Command
      */
     protected function getMigrationPaths()
     {
-        $realpath = $this->input->hasOption('realpath') && $this->option('realpath');
-
         // Here, we will check to see if a path option has been defined. If it has we will
         // use the path relative to the root of the installation folder so our database
         // migrations may be run for any customized path from within the application.
         if ($this->input->hasOption('path') && $this->option('path')) {
-            return collect($this->option('path'))->map(function ($path) use ($realpath) {
-                return $realpath ? $path : $this->laravel->basePath().'/'.$path;
+            return collect($this->option('path'))->map(function ($path) {
+                return ! $this->usingRealPath()
+                                ? $this->laravel->basePath().'/'.$path
+                                : $path;
             })->all();
         }
 
@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@ protected function getMigrationPaths()
         );
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Determine if the given path(s) are pre-resolved "real" paths.
+     *
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    protected function usingRealPath()
+    {
+        return $this->input->hasOption('realpath') && $this->option('realpath');
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get the path to the migration directory.
      *
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/FreshCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/FreshCommand.php
index 2def1c0d6311..39dec79128bf 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/FreshCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/FreshCommand.php
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@ protected function getOptions()
 
             ['force', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Force the operation to run when in production.'],
 
-            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The path of migrations files to be executed.'],
+            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The path to the migrations files to be executed.'],
 
-            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Mark the given migration path(s) as realpath.'],
+            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Indicate any provided migration file paths are pre-resolved absolute paths.'],
 
             ['seed', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Indicates if the seed task should be re-run.'],
 
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/MigrateCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/MigrateCommand.php
index ebf16855a3eb..dbeaed418b12 100755
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/MigrateCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/MigrateCommand.php
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ class MigrateCommand extends BaseCommand
      */
     protected $signature = 'migrate {--database= : The database connection to use.}
                 {--force : Force the operation to run when in production.}
-                {--path= : The path of migrations files to be executed.}
-                {--realpath : Mark the given migration path(s) as realpath.}
+                {--path= : The path to the migrations files to be executed.}
+                {--realpath : Indicate any provided migration file paths are pre-resolved absolute paths.}
                 {--pretend : Dump the SQL queries that would be run.}
                 {--seed : Indicates if the seed task should be re-run.}
                 {--step : Force the migrations to be run so they can be rolled back individually.}';
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/MigrateMakeCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/MigrateMakeCommand.php
index 23b0651dbf6f..aafd973f17f1 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/MigrateMakeCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/MigrateMakeCommand.php
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class MigrateMakeCommand extends BaseCommand
         {--create= : The table to be created.}
         {--table= : The table to migrate.}
         {--path= : The location where the migration file should be created.}
-        {--realpath : Mark the given migration path as realpath.}';
+        {--realpath : Indicate any provided migration file paths are pre-resolved absolute paths.}';
 
     /**
      * The console command description.
@@ -124,11 +124,21 @@ protected function writeMigration($name, $table, $create)
     protected function getMigrationPath()
     {
         if (! is_null($targetPath = $this->input->getOption('path'))) {
-            $realpath = $this->input->hasOption('realpath') && $this->option('realpath');
-
-            return $realpath ? $targetPath : $this->laravel->basePath().'/'.$targetPath;
+            return ! $this->usingRealPath()
+                            ? $this->laravel->basePath().'/'.$targetPath
+                            : $targetPath;
         }
 
         return parent::getMigrationPath();
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Determine if the given path(s) are pre-resolved "real" paths.
+     *
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    protected function usingRealPath()
+    {
+        return $this->input->hasOption('realpath') && $this->option('realpath');
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/RefreshCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/RefreshCommand.php
index c8ae9b341661..866b2133f092 100755
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/RefreshCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/RefreshCommand.php
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ protected function getOptions()
 
             ['force', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Force the operation to run when in production.'],
 
-            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The path of migrations files to be executed.'],
+            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The path to the migrations files to be executed.'],
 
-            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Mark the given migration path(s) as realpath.'],
+            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Indicate any provided migration file paths are pre-resolved absolute paths.'],
 
             ['seed', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Indicates if the seed task should be re-run.'],
 
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/ResetCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/ResetCommand.php
index 82e79bffdeb1..c887ac494e7b 100755
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/ResetCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/ResetCommand.php
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ protected function getOptions()
 
             ['force', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Force the operation to run when in production.'],
 
-            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL | InputOption::VALUE_IS_ARRAY, 'The path(s) of migrations files to be executed.'],
+            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL | InputOption::VALUE_IS_ARRAY, 'The path(s) to the migrations files to be executed.'],
 
-            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Mark the given migration path(s) as realpath.'],
+            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Indicate any provided migration file paths are pre-resolved absolute paths.'],
 
             ['pretend', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Dump the SQL queries that would be run.'],
         ];
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/RollbackCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/RollbackCommand.php
index d86d5db711e2..eac23263ce9d 100755
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/RollbackCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/RollbackCommand.php
@@ -84,9 +84,9 @@ protected function getOptions()
 
             ['force', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Force the operation to run when in production.'],
 
-            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The path of migrations files to be executed.'],
+            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The path to the migrations files to be executed.'],
 
-            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Mark the given migration path(s) as realpath.'],
+            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Indicate any provided migration file paths are pre-resolved absolute paths.'],
 
             ['pretend', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Dump the SQL queries that would be run.'],
 
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/StatusCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/StatusCommand.php
index e8612f1578e2..93ed51a7e019 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/StatusCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Database/Console/Migrations/StatusCommand.php
@@ -105,9 +105,9 @@ protected function getOptions()
         return [
             ['database', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The database connection to use.'],
 
-            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The path of migrations files to use.'],
+            ['path', null, InputOption::VALUE_OPTIONAL, 'The path to the migrations files to use.'],
 
-            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Mark the given migration path(s) as realpath.'],
+            ['realpath', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Indicate any provided migration file paths are pre-resolved absolute paths.'],
         ];
     }
 }