diff --git a/reme4/steps/base_step.py b/reme4/steps/base_step.py
index 54dbefe0..1d5764d7 100644
--- a/reme4/steps/base_step.py
+++ b/reme4/steps/base_step.py
@@ -87,24 +87,6 @@ class BaseStep(ABC):
             return Path.cwd()
         return Path(self.app_context.app_config.working_dir)
 
-    def resolve_path(self, raw: str) -> Path | None:
-        """Resolve a relative `path=` argument under self.working_path.
-
-        Rules:
-          - the caller supplies the full relative path under ``self.working_path``;
-            absolute paths are rejected.
-        Returns ``(abs_path, None)`` on success, or ``(None, error_message)`` on failure.
-        Filetype-specific gating (e.g. markdown-only / suffix auto-append) is
-        layered on top by callers — see ``reme4/steps/crud/_file_io.py::gate_md``.
-        """
-        if not raw or not str(raw).strip():
-            return None, "`path` is required"
-        s = str(raw).strip()
-        p = Path(s)
-        if p.is_absolute():
-            return None, (f"path {s!r} is absolute; only relative paths accepted")
-        return self.working_path / p, None
-
     def _resolve(
         self,
         key: str,
diff --git a/reme4/steps/crud/_file_io.py b/reme4/steps/crud/_file_io.py
index bf61171a..4beaa35d 100644
--- a/reme4/steps/crud/_file_io.py
+++ b/reme4/steps/crud/_file_io.py
@@ -11,6 +11,26 @@ from ...utils import get_logger
 logger = get_logger()
 
 
+def resolve_path(working_path: Path, raw: str) -> tuple[Path | None, str | None]:
+    """Resolve a relative `path=` argument under self.working_path.
+
+    Rules:
+        - the caller supplies the full relative path under ``self.working_path``;
+        absolute paths are rejected.
+    Returns ``(abs_path, None)`` on success, or ``(None, error_message)`` on failure.
+    Filetype-specific gating (e.g. markdown-only / suffix auto-append) is
+    layered on top by callers — see ``reme4/steps/crud/_file_io.py::gate_md``.
+    """
+    if not raw or not str(raw).strip():
+        return None, "`path` is required"
+    s = str(raw).strip()
+    p = Path(s)
+    if p.is_absolute():
+        logger.info("absolute path detected, recommmending relative paths")
+        return p, None
+    return working_path / p, None
+
+
 def gate_md(target: Path, raw: str) -> tuple[Path | None, str | None]:
     """Markdown-only gate: auto-append `.md` when no suffix; reject any non-`.md` suffix.
 
diff --git a/reme4/steps/crud/read.py b/reme4/steps/crud/read.py
index fc30bf10..55285efa 100644
--- a/reme4/steps/crud/read.py
+++ b/reme4/steps/crud/read.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from ._file_io import (
     gate_md,
+    resolve_path,
     read_file_safe,
     truncate_text_output,
 )
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ class ReadStep(BaseStep):
         start_line = self.context.get("start_line")
         end_line = self.context.get("end_line")
 
-        target, err = self.resolve_path(raw)
+        target, err = resolve_path(self.working_path, raw)
         if err:
             self._fail(err)
             return None