diff --git a/py/config.py b/py/config.py
index bdd9a591..c34952d5 100644
--- a/py/config.py
+++ b/py/config.py
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ class Config:
         start = time.perf_counter()
         # Reset mappings before rescanning to avoid stale entries
         self._path_mappings.clear()
+        self._seed_root_symlink_mappings()
         visited_dirs: Set[str] = set()
         for root in self._symlink_roots():
             self._scan_directory_links(root, visited_dirs)
@@ -458,6 +459,22 @@ class Config:
         self._preview_root_paths.update(self._expand_preview_root(normalized_target))
         self._preview_root_paths.update(self._expand_preview_root(normalized_link))
 
+    def _seed_root_symlink_mappings(self) -> None:
+        """Ensure symlinked root folders are recorded before deep scanning."""
+
+        for root in self._symlink_roots():
+            if not root:
+                continue
+            try:
+                if not self._is_link(root):
+                    continue
+                target_path = os.path.realpath(root)
+                if not os.path.isdir(target_path):
+                    continue
+                self.add_path_mapping(root, target_path)
+            except Exception as exc:
+                logger.debug("Skipping root symlink %s: %s", root, exc)
+
     def _expand_preview_root(self, path: str) -> Set[Path]:
         """Return normalized ``Path`` objects representing a preview root."""
 
diff --git a/py/services/base_model_service.py b/py/services/base_model_service.py
index 84db592b..7f1d9bb6 100644
--- a/py/services/base_model_service.py
+++ b/py/services/base_model_service.py
@@ -716,6 +716,8 @@ class BaseModelService(ABC):
                 if normalized_file.startswith(normalized_root):
                     # Remove root and leading separator to get relative path
                     relative_path = normalized_file[len(normalized_root):].lstrip(os.sep)
+                    # Normalize separators so results are stable across platforms
+                    relative_path = relative_path.replace(os.sep, "/")
                     break
             
             if not relative_path:
diff --git a/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py b/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
index caf50195..5ba9820b 100644
--- a/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
+++ b/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import json
 import os
 
 import pytest
@@ -143,3 +144,40 @@ def test_background_rescan_refreshes_cache(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_
     new_real = _normalize(os.path.realpath(new_target))
     assert second_cfg._path_mappings.get(new_real) == _normalize(str(dir_link))
     assert second_cfg.map_path_to_link(str(new_target)) == _normalize(str(dir_link))
+
+
+def test_symlink_roots_are_preserved(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+    settings_dir = tmp_path / "settings"
+    real_loras = tmp_path / "loras_real"
+    real_loras.mkdir()
+    loras_link = tmp_path / "loras_link"
+    loras_link.symlink_to(real_loras, target_is_directory=True)
+
+    checkpoints_dir = tmp_path / "checkpoints"
+    checkpoints_dir.mkdir()
+    embedding_dir = tmp_path / "embeddings"
+    embedding_dir.mkdir()
+
+    def fake_get_folder_paths(kind: str):
+        mapping = {
+            "loras": [str(loras_link)],
+            "checkpoints": [str(checkpoints_dir)],
+            "unet": [],
+            "embeddings": [str(embedding_dir)],
+        }
+        return mapping.get(kind, [])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.folder_paths, "get_folder_paths", fake_get_folder_paths)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module, "standalone_mode", True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module, "get_settings_dir", lambda create=True: str(settings_dir))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.Config, "_schedule_symlink_rescan", lambda self: None)
+
+    cfg = config_module.Config()
+
+    normalized_real = _normalize(os.path.realpath(real_loras))
+    normalized_link = _normalize(str(loras_link))
+    assert cfg._path_mappings[normalized_real] == normalized_link
+
+    cache_path = settings_dir / "cache" / "symlink_map.json"
+    payload = json.loads(cache_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    assert payload["path_mappings"][normalized_real] == normalized_link