diff --git a/novajoin_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/manager.py b/novajoin_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/manager.py
index 0cad67f..b41ad06 100644
--- a/novajoin_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/manager.py
+++ b/novajoin_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/manager.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+import os
 from oslo_log import log
 
 from tempest.common import image as common_image
@@ -197,7 +198,22 @@ class ScenarioTest(tempest.test.BaseTestCase):
         image = body['image'] if 'image' in body else body
         # self.addCleanup(self.image_client.delete_image, image['id'])
         self.assertEqual("queued", image['status'])
-        img_path = CONF.scenario.img_dir + "/" + CONF.scenario.img_file
+
+        img_path = CONF.scenario.img_file
+        if not os.path.exists(img_path):
+            # TODO(kopecmartin): replace LOG.warning for raising
+            # InvalidConfiguration exception when this plugin is meant to be
+            # used with only Tempest 27.0.0 and higher
+            LOG.warning(
+                'Starting Tempest 25.0.0 release, CONF.scenario.img_file need '
+                'a full path for the image. CONF.scenario.img_dir was '
+                'deprecated and is removed in 27.0.0 release. Till Tempest '
+                '27.0.0 (excluding), old behavior is maintained and kept '
+                'working but starting Tempest 27.0.0, only full path '
+                'CONF.scenario.img_file config option is accepted by the '
+                'Tempest.')
+            img_path = os.path.join(CONF.scenario.img_dir, img_path)
+
         with open(img_path, 'rb') as image_file:
             if CONF.image_feature_enabled.api_v1:
                 self.image_client.update_image(image['id'], data=image_file)