diff --git a/persistence/mediafile_repository.go b/persistence/mediafile_repository.go
index 0e1a2fec7..e34e8601f 100644
--- a/persistence/mediafile_repository.go
+++ b/persistence/mediafile_repository.go
@@ -362,19 +362,14 @@ func (r *mediaFileRepository) FindByPaths(paths []string) (model.MediaFiles, err
 	var unqualified []string
 
 	for _, path := range paths {
-		parts := strings.SplitN(path, ":", 2)
-		if len(parts) == 2 {
-			// Library-qualified path: "libraryID:path"
-			libraryID, err := strconv.Atoi(parts[0])
-			if err != nil {
-				// Invalid format, skip
+		// A colon only qualifies the path when what precedes it is a library id ("Bach: Goldberg/01.mp3" is a plain path)
+		if id, rest, ok := strings.Cut(path, ":"); ok {
+			if libraryID, err := strconv.Atoi(id); err == nil {
+				byLibrary[libraryID] = append(byLibrary[libraryID], rest)
 				continue
 			}
-			byLibrary[libraryID] = append(byLibrary[libraryID], parts[1])
-		} else {
-			// Unqualified path: search across all libraries
-			unqualified = append(unqualified, path)
 		}
+		unqualified = append(unqualified, path)
 	}
 
 	query := Or{}
diff --git a/persistence/mediafile_repository_test.go b/persistence/mediafile_repository_test.go
index daf4de5b7..020488bc8 100644
--- a/persistence/mediafile_repository_test.go
+++ b/persistence/mediafile_repository_test.go
@@ -992,6 +992,7 @@ var _ = Describe("MediaRepository", func() {
 				{ID: "findpath-3", LibraryID: 1, Path: "plex/02 - ＡＣＲＯＳＳ.flac", Title: "Fullwidth"},
 				// French diacritic: è (U+00E8, can decompose to e + combining grave)
 				{ID: "findpath-4", LibraryID: 1, Path: "artist/Michèle/song.mp3", Title: "French"},
+				{ID: "findpath-5", LibraryID: 1, Path: "Bach: Goldberg Variations/01.mp3", Title: "Colon"},
 			}
 			for _, mf := range testFiles {
 				Expect(mr.Put(&mf)).To(Succeed())
@@ -1004,6 +1005,20 @@ var _ = Describe("MediaRepository", func() {
 			}
 		})
 
+		It("treats a path whose prefix is not a library id as unqualified", func() {
+			results, err := mr.FindByPaths([]string{"Bach: Goldberg Variations/01.mp3"})
+			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(results).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(results[0].ID).To(Equal("findpath-5"))
+		})
+
+		It("splits only the first colon of a library-qualified path", func() {
+			results, err := mr.FindByPaths([]string{"1:Bach: Goldberg Variations/01.mp3"})
+			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(results).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(results[0].ID).To(Equal("findpath-5"))
+		})
+
 		It("finds files by exact path", func() {
 			results, err := mr.FindByPaths([]string{"1:artist/Album/track.mp3"})
 			Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())