diff --git a/hgext/narrow/narrowcommands.py b/hgext/narrow/narrowcommands.py
--- a/hgext/narrow/narrowcommands.py
+++ b/hgext/narrow/narrowcommands.py
@@ -527,8 +527,8 @@ def trackedcmd(ui, repo, remotepath=None
     # import rules from a file
     newrules = opts.get('import_rules')
     if newrules:
+        filepath = os.path.join(encoding.getcwd(), newrules)
         try:
-            filepath = os.path.join(encoding.getcwd(), newrules)
             fdata = util.readfile(filepath)
         except IOError as inst:
             raise error.StorageError(