diff --git a/invokeai/backend/model_management/model_manager.py b/invokeai/backend/model_management/model_manager.py
index c62f42b88d..3a4f9c1e66 100644
--- a/invokeai/backend/model_management/model_manager.py
+++ b/invokeai/backend/model_management/model_manager.py
@@ -568,6 +568,9 @@ class ModelManager(object):
                 model_type=cur_model_type,
             )
 
+            # expose paths as absolute
+            if path := model_dict.get('path'):
+                model_dict['path'] = str(self.app_config.root_path / path)
             models.append(model_dict)
 
         return models
@@ -635,6 +638,11 @@ class ModelManager(object):
         The returned dict has the same format as the dict returned by
         model_info().
         """
+        # relativize paths as they go in - this makes it easier to move the root directory around
+        self.logger.debug(model_attributes)
+        if path := model_attributes.get('path'):
+            if Path(path).is_relative_to(self.app_config.root_path):
+                model_attributes['path'] = str(Path(path).relative_to(self.app_config.root_path))
 
         model_class = MODEL_CLASSES[base_model][model_type]
         model_config = model_class.create_config(**model_attributes)