diff --git a/core/io/resource_loader.cpp b/core/io/resource_loader.cpp
index ff563a35b2d..191abee3151 100644
--- a/core/io/resource_loader.cpp
+++ b/core/io/resource_loader.cpp
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ static String _validate_local_path(const String &p_path) {
 	if (uid != ResourceUID::INVALID_ID) {
 		return ResourceUID::get_singleton()->get_id_path(uid);
 	} else if (p_path.is_relative_path()) {
-		return "res://" + p_path;
+		return ("res://" + p_path).simplify_path();
 	} else {
 		return ProjectSettings::get_singleton()->localize_path(p_path);
 	}