diff --git a/crates/engine/src/project_manager.rs b/crates/engine/src/project_manager.rs
index 3a78fff18..53c543e80 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/project_manager.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/project_manager.rs
@@ -137,7 +137,10 @@ pub fn run(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     for id in ids {
         let Some(m) = proj.item(id).and_then(|i| i.as_media()).cloned() else { continue };
         let MediaRef::File { path } = &m.media else { continue };
-        let size = s.services.file_size(path).unwrap_or(0);
+        // Project files carry stored paths; use only the media pool's resolved, policy-approved
+        // pathname for filesystem I/O. Keep the stored path in the project itself.
+        let source_path = s.media.follow(path).map_err(|why| EngineError::Other(format!("{path} is not opened: {why}")))?;
+        let size = s.services.file_size(&source_path).unwrap_or(0);
         original_bytes += size;
         let file = Path::new(path);
         let stem = file.file_stem().map(|n| n.to_string_lossy().into_owned()).unwrap_or_else(|| format!("media-{}", id.0));
@@ -158,20 +161,23 @@ pub fn run(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
         };
         taken.push(out.clone());
         let proxy = match (&m.proxy, include_proxies) {
-            (Some(MediaRef::File { path: pp }), true) if s.services.file_size(pp).is_ok() => {
-                let pf = Path::new(pp);
-                let ps = pf.file_stem().map(|n| n.to_string_lossy().into_owned()).unwrap_or_default();
-                let pe = pf.extension().map(|n| n.to_string_lossy().into_owned()).unwrap_or_default();
-                let o = unique_path(&dest_dir.join("Proxies"), &ps, "", &pe, &taken).to_string_lossy().into_owned();
-                taken.push(o.clone());
-                let b = s.services.file_size(pp).unwrap_or(0);
-                original_bytes += b;
-                result_bytes += b;
-                Some((pp.clone(), o))
-            }
+            (Some(MediaRef::File { path: pp }), true) => match s.media.follow(pp) {
+                Ok(resolved_proxy) if s.services.file_size(&resolved_proxy).is_ok() => {
+                    let pf = Path::new(&resolved_proxy);
+                    let ps = pf.file_stem().map(|n| n.to_string_lossy().into_owned()).unwrap_or_default();
+                    let pe = pf.extension().map(|n| n.to_string_lossy().into_owned()).unwrap_or_default();
+                    let o = unique_path(&dest_dir.join("Proxies"), &ps, "", &pe, &taken).to_string_lossy().into_owned();
+                    taken.push(o.clone());
+                    let b = s.services.file_size(&resolved_proxy).unwrap_or(0);
+                    original_bytes += b;
+                    result_bytes += b;
+                    Some((resolved_proxy, o))
+                }
+                _ => None,
+            },
             _ => None,
         };
-        work.push(Work { item: id, src_path: path.clone(), out, range, proxy });
+        work.push(Work { item: id, src_path: source_path, out, range, proxy });
     }
     let previews = s.path.as_deref().map(crate::previews::dir_for_project).filter(|d| include_previews && d.is_dir());
     if let Some(d) = &previews {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/relink.rs b/crates/engine/src/relink.rs
index c3b6b3879..7a75826e9 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/relink.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/relink.rs
@@ -489,9 +489,14 @@ pub fn index_folder(root: &Path, limit: usize) -> BTreeMap<String, Vec<PathBuf>>
             if name.starts_with('.') {
                 continue;
             }
-            if p.is_dir() {
+            let Ok(file_type) = e.file_type() else { continue };
+            // A relink search must stay within the folder explicitly chosen by the user. In
+            // particular, following a directory symlink can make a small loop defeat the file
+            // budget and walk an unrelated tree. Symlinked files are still candidates.
+            let is_file = if file_type.is_symlink() { std::fs::metadata(&p).is_ok_and(|m| m.is_file()) } else { file_type.is_file() };
+            if file_type.is_dir() {
                 queue.push_back(p);
-            } else {
+            } else if is_file {
                 out.entry(name.to_ascii_lowercase()).or_default().push(p);
                 n += 1;
                 if n >= limit {
@@ -564,7 +569,11 @@ pub fn make_offline(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let mut deleted = Vec::new();
     if delete {
         for (_, path) in &files {
-            if std::fs::remove_file(path).is_ok() {
+            // Stored paths in an opened document are not authority to delete arbitrary files.
+            // Delete only the resolved path that the media pool permits opening.
+            if let Ok(path) = s.media.follow(path)
+                && std::fs::remove_file(&path).is_ok()
+            {
                 deleted.push(path.clone());
             }
         }
@@ -583,14 +592,14 @@ fn status_json(s: &Session, id: ItemId) -> Option<Value> {
     let status = match &path {
         None => "generated",
         Some(_) if m.offline => "offline",
-        Some(p) if s.services.file_size(p).is_err() => "missing",
+        Some(p) if s.media.follow(p).ok().is_none_or(|file| s.services.file_size(&file).is_err()) => "missing",
         Some(_) => match s.media.offline_status(id) {
             Some(o) if o.reason == filmcraft_render::offline::OfflineReason::Unreadable => "unreadable",
             _ => "online",
         },
     };
     let proxy = match &m.proxy {
-        Some(MediaRef::File { path }) => json!({"path": path, "online": s.services.file_size(path).is_ok()}),
+        Some(MediaRef::File { path }) => json!({"path": path, "online": s.media.follow(path).is_ok_and(|file| s.services.file_size(&file).is_ok())}),
         _ => Value::Null,
     };
     Some(json!({
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/relink_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/relink_tests.rs
index 33208c544..180629a2a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/relink_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/relink_tests.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use serde_json::json;
 
 use crate::Session;
 use crate::media_test_util::{frame_rgba, make_movie, psnr, session_with, tmp_dir};
-use crate::relink::{apply_remap, derive_remap};
+use crate::relink::{apply_remap, derive_remap, index_folder};
 
 const W: u32 = 160;
 const H: u32 = 90;
@@ -163,6 +163,29 @@ fn make_offline_shows_the_slate_until_relinked() {
     let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root);
 }
 
+#[cfg(unix)]
+#[test]
+fn relink_search_does_not_follow_directory_symlinks() {
+    use std::os::unix::fs::symlink;
+
+    let root = tmp_dir("relink-no-symlink-walk");
+    let inside = root.join("inside");
+    let outside = root.join("outside");
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&inside).unwrap();
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&outside).unwrap();
+    std::fs::write(inside.join("kept.mov"), b"kept").unwrap();
+    std::fs::write(outside.join("outside.mov"), b"outside").unwrap();
+    symlink(&outside, inside.join("loop")).unwrap();
+    symlink(outside.join("outside.mov"), inside.join("linked.mov")).unwrap();
+
+    let index = index_folder(&inside, 20_000);
+    assert!(index.contains_key("kept.mov"));
+    assert!(!index.contains_key("outside.mov"));
+    // a symlinked file is still media the user can relink to
+    assert!(index.contains_key("linked.mov"));
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root);
+}
+
 // Regression test for issue #110: after `file.import` re-imports a file at a path the project
 // already listed as offline, `s.offline.missing` must drop that item so the slate and the
 // "Media missing" badge clear without reopening the project. Before the fix (the patch in