diff --git a/src/cloudai/_core/installables.py b/src/cloudai/_core/installables.py
index 924655733..e578190f7 100644
--- a/src/cloudai/_core/installables.py
+++ b/src/cloudai/_core/installables.py
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ def installed_path(self) -> Union[str, Path]:
         """Return the cached path or URL of the docker image."""
         if self._installed_path:
             return self._installed_path.absolute() if isinstance(self._installed_path, Path) else self._installed_path
+        local_image_path = Path(self.url)
+        if local_image_path.is_absolute() or self.url.startswith("."):
+            return local_image_path.absolute()
         return self.url
 
     @installed_path.setter
diff --git a/tests/systems/slurm/test_installer.py b/tests/systems/slurm/test_installer.py
index 2c09ddc25..8cf6ecaa0 100644
--- a/tests/systems/slurm/test_installer.py
+++ b/tests/systems/slurm/test_installer.py
@@ -368,3 +368,17 @@ def test_mark_as_installed_local_container(slurm_system: SlurmSystem):
     installer.mark_as_installed_one(docker_image)
 
     assert docker_image.installed_path == local_image.absolute()
+
+
+def test_mark_as_installed_duplicate_local_containers_preserve_local_path(slurm_system: SlurmSystem):
+    installer = SlurmInstaller(slurm_system)
+
+    local_image = Path("/tmp/local_image.sqsh")
+    first = DockerImage(url=str(local_image))
+    second = DockerImage(url=str(local_image))
+
+    result = installer.mark_as_installed([first, second])
+
+    assert result.success
+    assert first.installed_path == local_image
+    assert second.installed_path == local_image