diff --git a/py/config.py b/py/config.py
index 4436c841..37baa71e 100644
--- a/py/config.py
+++ b/py/config.py
@@ -293,15 +293,19 @@ class Config:
             )
             self._rebuild_preview_roots()
 
-            # Only rescan if target roots have changed. 
-            # This is stable across file additions/deletions.
             current_fingerprint = self._build_symlink_fingerprint()
             cached_fingerprint = self._cached_fingerprint
-            
-            if cached_fingerprint and current_fingerprint == cached_fingerprint:
+
+            # Check 1: First-level symlinks unchanged (catches new symlinks at root)
+            fingerprint_valid = cached_fingerprint and current_fingerprint == cached_fingerprint
+
+            # Check 2: All cached mappings still valid (catches changes at any depth)
+            mappings_valid = self._validate_cached_mappings() if fingerprint_valid else False
+
+            if fingerprint_valid and mappings_valid:
                 return
 
-            logger.info("Symlink root paths changed; rescanning symbolic links")
+            logger.info("Symlink configuration changed; rescanning symbolic links")
 
         self.rebuild_symlink_cache()
         logger.info(
@@ -348,6 +352,36 @@ class Config:
         logger.info("Symlink cache loaded with %d mappings", len(self._path_mappings))
         return True
 
+    def _validate_cached_mappings(self) -> bool:
+        """Verify all cached symlink mappings are still valid.
+
+        Returns True if all mappings are valid, False if rescan is needed.
+        This catches removed or retargeted symlinks at ANY depth.
+        """
+        for target, link in self._path_mappings.items():
+            # Convert normalized paths back to OS paths
+            link_path = link.replace('/', os.sep)
+
+            # Check if symlink still exists
+            if not self._is_link(link_path):
+                logger.debug("Cached symlink no longer exists: %s", link_path)
+                return False
+
+            # Check if target is still the same
+            try:
+                actual_target = self._normalize_path(os.path.realpath(link_path))
+                if actual_target != target:
+                    logger.debug(
+                        "Symlink target changed: %s -> %s (cached: %s)",
+                        link_path, actual_target, target
+                    )
+                    return False
+            except OSError:
+                logger.debug("Cannot resolve symlink: %s", link_path)
+                return False
+
+        return True
+
     def _save_symlink_cache(self) -> None:
         cache_path = self._get_symlink_cache_path()
         payload = {
diff --git a/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py b/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
index 8ce8aff4..47569be6 100644
--- a/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
+++ b/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
@@ -217,3 +217,57 @@ def test_new_symlink_triggers_rescan(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
     second_cfg = config_module.Config()
     normalized_external = _normalize(str(external_dir))
     assert normalized_external in second_cfg._path_mappings
+
+
+def test_removed_deep_symlink_triggers_rescan(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+    """Removing a deep symlink should trigger cache invalidation."""
+    loras_dir, settings_dir = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+
+    # Create nested structure with deep symlink
+    subdir = loras_dir / "anime"
+    subdir.mkdir()
+    external_dir = tmp_path / "external"
+    external_dir.mkdir()
+    deep_symlink = subdir / "styles"
+    deep_symlink.symlink_to(external_dir, target_is_directory=True)
+
+    # Initial scan finds the deep symlink
+    first_cfg = config_module.Config()
+    normalized_external = _normalize(str(external_dir))
+    assert normalized_external in first_cfg._path_mappings
+
+    # Remove the deep symlink
+    deep_symlink.unlink()
+
+    # Second config should detect invalid cached mapping and rescan
+    second_cfg = config_module.Config()
+    assert normalized_external not in second_cfg._path_mappings
+
+
+def test_retargeted_deep_symlink_triggers_rescan(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+    """Changing a deep symlink's target should trigger cache invalidation."""
+    loras_dir, settings_dir = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+
+    # Create nested structure
+    subdir = loras_dir / "anime"
+    subdir.mkdir()
+    target_v1 = tmp_path / "external_v1"
+    target_v1.mkdir()
+    target_v2 = tmp_path / "external_v2"
+    target_v2.mkdir()
+
+    deep_symlink = subdir / "styles"
+    deep_symlink.symlink_to(target_v1, target_is_directory=True)
+
+    # Initial scan
+    first_cfg = config_module.Config()
+    assert _normalize(str(target_v1)) in first_cfg._path_mappings
+
+    # Retarget the symlink
+    deep_symlink.unlink()
+    deep_symlink.symlink_to(target_v2, target_is_directory=True)
+
+    # Second config should detect changed target and rescan
+    second_cfg = config_module.Config()
+    assert _normalize(str(target_v2)) in second_cfg._path_mappings
+    assert _normalize(str(target_v1)) not in second_cfg._path_mappings