diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 93d0b7a0843d99d486199aebb2f4b46992a07026..ddfd7076650663bb025b2a7cdbcadde4655cc887 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -10930,8 +10930,9 @@ Defaults to @samp{()}.
 
 Available @code{unix-listener-configuration} fields are:
 
-@deftypevr {@code{unix-listener-configuration} parameter} file-name path
-The file name on which to listen.
+@deftypevr {@code{unix-listener-configuration} parameter} string path
+Path to the file, relative to @code{base-dir} field.  This is also used as
+the section name.
 @end deftypevr
 
 @deftypevr {@code{unix-listener-configuration} parameter} string mode
@@ -10952,8 +10953,9 @@ Defaults to @samp{""}.
 
 Available @code{fifo-listener-configuration} fields are:
 
-@deftypevr {@code{fifo-listener-configuration} parameter} file-name path
-The file name on which to listen.
+@deftypevr {@code{fifo-listener-configuration} parameter} string path
+Path to the file, relative to @code{base-dir} field.  This is also used as
+the section name.
 @end deftypevr
 
 @deftypevr {@code{fifo-listener-configuration} parameter} string mode
diff --git a/gnu/services/mail.scm b/gnu/services/mail.scm
index b211ab61a5329ca433ae0c0c2fa2bddb8aa24d02..dbc5de9e620db4c450b760e3bd6f756085c624f0 100644
--- a/gnu/services/mail.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/mail.scm
@@ -165,8 +165,9 @@ (define (serialize-userdb-configuration-list field-name val)
 
 (define-configuration unix-listener-configuration
   (path
-   (file-name (configuration-missing-field 'unix-listener 'path))
-   "The file name on which to listen.")
+   (string (configuration-missing-field 'unix-listener 'path))
+   "Path to the file, relative to @code{base-dir} field.  This is also used as
+the section name.")
   (mode
    (string "0600")
    "The access mode for the socket.")
@@ -184,8 +185,9 @@ (define (serialize-unix-listener-configuration field-name val)
 
 (define-configuration fifo-listener-configuration
   (path
-   (file-name (configuration-missing-field 'fifo-listener 'path))
-   "The file name on which to listen.")
+   (string (configuration-missing-field 'fifo-listener 'path))
+   "Path to the file, relative to @code{base-dir} field.  This is also used as
+the section name.")
   (mode
    (string "0600")
    "The access mode for the socket.")