diff --git a/core/playlists.go b/core/playlists.go
index e42dd15d2..164221697 100644
--- a/core/playlists.go
+++ b/core/playlists.go
@@ -341,17 +341,17 @@ func (r *pathResolver) resolveRelativePath(line string, folder *model.Folder) pa
 
 	// Step 2: Determine which library this absolute path belongs to
 	libID, libPath := r.matcher.findLibraryForPath(absolutePath)
-	if libID != 0 {
-		return pathResolution{
-			absolutePath: absolutePath,
-			libraryPath:  libPath,
-			libraryID:    libID,
-			valid:        true,
-		}
+	if libID == 0 {
+		// Path not found in any library - this should not happen as the playlist's
+		// own library should have been matched above
+		return pathResolution{valid: false}
+	}
+	return pathResolution{
+		absolutePath: absolutePath,
+		libraryPath:  libPath,
+		libraryID:    libID,
+		valid:        true,
 	}
-
-	// Fallback: Check if it's in the playlist's own library
-	return r.validatePathInLibrary(absolutePath, folder.LibraryPath, folder.LibraryID)
 }
 
 // resolveAbsolutePath handles absolute paths by matching them against library paths.
@@ -370,22 +370,6 @@ func (r *pathResolver) resolveAbsolutePath(line string) pathResolution {
 	}
 }
 
-// validatePathInLibrary verifies that an absolute path belongs to the specified library.
-// It rejects paths that escape the library using ".." segments.
-func (r *pathResolver) validatePathInLibrary(absolutePath, libraryPath string, libraryID int) pathResolution {
-	rel, err := filepath.Rel(libraryPath, absolutePath)
-	if err != nil || strings.HasPrefix(rel, "..") {
-		return pathResolution{valid: false}
-	}
-
-	return pathResolution{
-		absolutePath: absolutePath,
-		libraryPath:  libraryPath,
-		libraryID:    libraryID,
-		valid:        true,
-	}
-}
-
 // resolvePaths converts playlist file paths to library-qualified paths (format: "libraryID:relativePath").
 // For relative paths, it resolves them to absolute paths first, then determines which
 // library they belong to. This allows playlists to reference files across library boundaries.
diff --git a/core/playlists_internal_test.go b/core/playlists_internal_test.go
index 922187531..b06a004d2 100644
--- a/core/playlists_internal_test.go
+++ b/core/playlists_internal_test.go
@@ -335,34 +335,6 @@ var _ = Describe("pathResolver", func() {
 		})
 	})
 
-	Describe("validatePathInLibrary", func() {
-		It("validates path within library", func() {
-			resolution := resolver.validatePathInLibrary("/music/artist/track.mp3", "/music", 1)
-
-			Expect(resolution.valid).To(BeTrue())
-			Expect(resolution.libraryID).To(Equal(1))
-			Expect(resolution.libraryPath).To(Equal("/music"))
-		})
-
-		It("rejects path that escapes library using ..", func() {
-			resolution := resolver.validatePathInLibrary("/music/../etc/passwd", "/music", 1)
-
-			Expect(resolution.valid).To(BeFalse())
-		})
-
-		It("rejects path outside library", func() {
-			resolution := resolver.validatePathInLibrary("/podcasts/track.mp3", "/music", 1)
-
-			Expect(resolution.valid).To(BeFalse())
-		})
-
-		It("accepts path exactly at library root", func() {
-			resolution := resolver.validatePathInLibrary("/music", "/music", 1)
-
-			Expect(resolution.valid).To(BeTrue())
-		})
-	})
-
 	Describe("Cross-library resolution scenarios", func() {
 		It("handles playlist in library A referencing file in library B", func() {
 			// Playlist is in /music/playlists
diff --git a/core/playlists_test.go b/core/playlists_test.go
index fb2082e2f..59b027690 100644
--- a/core/playlists_test.go
+++ b/core/playlists_test.go
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ var _ = Describe("Playlists", func() {
 			MockedLibrary:  mockLibRepo,
 		}
 		ctx = request.WithUser(ctx, model.User{ID: "123"})
-		// Path should be libPath, but we want to match the root folder referenced in the m3u, which is `/`
-		mockLibRepo.SetData([]model.Library{{ID: 1, Path: "/"}})
 	})
 
 	Describe("ImportFile", func() {
@@ -43,6 +41,8 @@ var _ = Describe("Playlists", func() {
 			ps = core.NewPlaylists(ds)
 			ds.MockedMediaFile = &mockedMediaFileRepo{}
 			libPath, _ := os.Getwd()
+			// Set up library with the actual library path that matches the folder
+			mockLibRepo.SetData([]model.Library{{ID: 1, Path: libPath}})
 			folder = &model.Folder{
 				ID:          "1",
 				LibraryID:   1,