diff --git a/litellm/proxy/proxy_cli.py b/litellm/proxy/proxy_cli.py
index 8f1d8b58f5c..57ba71bf1b9 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/proxy_cli.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/proxy_cli.py
@@ -188,13 +188,13 @@ class ProxyInitializationHelpers:
         if config_dir and config_dir != cwd:
             reload_dirs.append(config_dir)
         options["reload_dirs"] = reload_dirs
-        # Qualify the config-file pattern with its directory so only the
-        # specific config file (not any same-named file in cwd) triggers a
-        # reload when config_dir != cwd.
-        if config_dir and config_dir != cwd:
-            config_include = config_abs
-        else:
-            config_include = os.path.basename(config_abs)
+        # Use the basename as the include pattern. Uvicorn's
+        # resolve_reload_patterns() calls pathlib.Path.glob(), which raises
+        # NotImplementedError on absolute patterns (uvicorn discussion #2156),
+        # so an absolute path here would crash startup. The config_dir is
+        # already added to reload_dirs above, so a basename pattern is enough
+        # to match the specific config file uvicorn is watching.
+        config_include = os.path.basename(config_abs)
         options["reload_includes"] = ["*.py", config_include]
         return options
 
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_proxy_cli.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_proxy_cli.py
index dcd3e4b0dc0..4d0df4dedcd 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_proxy_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_proxy_cli.py
@@ -161,10 +161,10 @@ class TestProxyInitializationHelpers:
 
         assert opts["reload"] is True
         assert opts["reload_dirs"] == [str(cwd_dir), str(elsewhere)]
-        # When config lives outside cwd, the reload_includes entry must be the
-        # absolute path so that a same-named file in cwd does not trigger an
-        # unintended reload.
-        assert opts["reload_includes"] == ["*.py", str(config_file)]
+        # The reload_includes entry must be a relative pattern (basename)
+        # because uvicorn's resolve_reload_patterns() calls pathlib.Path.glob(),
+        # which raises NotImplementedError on absolute patterns.
+        assert opts["reload_includes"] == ["*.py", "proxy.yaml"]
 
     @patch("asyncio.run")
     @patch("builtins.print")