diff --git a/core/core-defuns.el b/core/core-defuns.el
index 520d7301a..67a17afd6 100644
--- a/core/core-defuns.el
+++ b/core/core-defuns.el
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ Examples:
   (let ((dir (or dir (narf/project-root))))
       (with-current-buffer (get-buffer-create "*scratch*")
         (setq default-directory dir)
-        (setq header-line-format '(:eval (concat " ∴ " default-directory))))))
+        (setq header-line-format '(:eval (concat " ∴ " (abbreviate-file-name default-directory)))))))
 
 
 ;;;; Global Defuns ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;