diff --git a/src/eval/func.rs b/src/eval/func.rs
index 4c5761ab6..f15b0241e 100644
--- a/src/eval/func.rs
+++ b/src/eval/func.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use super::{Args, Eval, Flow, Scope, Scopes, Value};
 use crate::diag::{StrResult, TypResult};
 use crate::model::{Content, NodeId, StyleMap};
+use crate::source::SourceId;
 use crate::syntax::ast::Expr;
 use crate::util::EcoString;
 use crate::Context;
@@ -174,6 +175,8 @@ pub trait Node: 'static {
 /// A user-defined closure.
 #[derive(Hash)]
 pub struct Closure {
+    /// The location where the closure was defined.
+    pub location: Option<SourceId>,
     /// The name of the closure.
     pub name: Option<EcoString>,
     /// Captured values from outer scopes.
@@ -212,18 +215,28 @@ impl Closure {
 
         // Backup the old control flow state.
         let prev_flow = ctx.flow.take();
+        let detached = ctx.route.is_empty();
+        if detached {
+            ctx.route = self.location.into_iter().collect();
+        }
 
         // Evaluate the body.
-        let mut value = self.body.eval(ctx, &mut scp)?;
+        let result = self.body.eval(ctx, &mut scp);
+
+        // Restore the old control flow state.
+        let flow = std::mem::replace(&mut ctx.flow, prev_flow);
+        if detached {
+            ctx.route.clear();
+        }
 
         // Handle control flow.
-        match std::mem::replace(&mut ctx.flow, prev_flow) {
-            Some(Flow::Return(_, Some(explicit))) => value = explicit,
+        match flow {
+            Some(Flow::Return(_, Some(explicit))) => return Ok(explicit),
             Some(Flow::Return(_, None)) => {}
             Some(flow) => return Err(flow.forbidden())?,
             None => {}
         }
 
-        Ok(value)
+        result
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/eval/mod.rs b/src/eval/mod.rs
index b35cf1ef9..790601373 100644
--- a/src/eval/mod.rs
+++ b/src/eval/mod.rs
@@ -707,6 +707,7 @@ impl Eval for ClosureExpr {
 
         // Define the actual function.
         Ok(Value::Func(Func::from_closure(Closure {
+            location: ctx.route.last().copied(),
             name,
             captured,
             params,
@@ -765,6 +766,7 @@ impl Eval for ShowExpr {
         let body = self.body();
         let span = body.span();
         let func = Func::from_closure(Closure {
+            location: ctx.route.last().copied(),
             name: None,
             captured,
             params,
@@ -945,9 +947,11 @@ impl Eval for IncludeExpr {
 /// Process an import of a module relative to the current location.
 fn import(ctx: &mut Context, path: &str, span: Span) -> TypResult<Module> {
     // Load the source file.
-    let full = ctx.complete_path(path);
+    let full = ctx.locate(&path).at(span)?;
     let id = ctx.sources.load(&full).map_err(|err| match err.kind() {
-        std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => error!(span, "file not found"),
+        std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {
+            error!(span, "file not found (searched at {})", full.display())
+        }
         _ => error!(span, "failed to load source file ({})", err),
     })?;
 
diff --git a/src/image.rs b/src/image.rs
index 24a0deecc..87c093d38 100644
--- a/src/image.rs
+++ b/src/image.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ impl ImageStore {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Load and decode an image file from a path.
+    /// Load and decode an image file from a path relative to the compilation
+    /// environment's root.
     pub fn load(&mut self, path: &Path) -> io::Result<ImageId> {
         let hash = self.loader.resolve(path)?;
         Ok(*match self.files.entry(hash) {
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index efddc239b..eb6e8f722 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ use std::hash::Hash;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-use crate::diag::TypResult;
+use crate::diag::{StrResult, TypResult};
 use crate::eval::{Eval, Flow, Module, Scope, Scopes};
 use crate::font::FontStore;
 use crate::frame::Frame;
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ use crate::image::ImageStore;
 use crate::loading::Loader;
 use crate::model::StyleMap;
 use crate::source::{SourceId, SourceStore};
+use crate::util::PathExt;
 
 /// The core context which holds the loader, configuration and cached artifacts.
 pub struct Context {
@@ -76,6 +77,8 @@ pub struct Context {
     pub fonts: FontStore,
     /// Stores decoded images.
     pub images: ImageStore,
+    /// The compilation root.
+    root: PathBuf,
     /// The standard library scope.
     std: Arc<Scope>,
     /// The default styles.
@@ -172,51 +175,64 @@ impl Context {
         self.evaluate(id)?.content.layout(self)
     }
 
-    /// Resolve a user-entered path (relative to the current evaluation
-    /// location) to be relative to the compilation environment's root.
-    pub fn complete_path(&self, path: &str) -> PathBuf {
+    /// Resolve a user-entered path to be relative to the compilation
+    /// environment's root.
+    pub fn locate(&self, path: &str) -> StrResult<PathBuf> {
         if let Some(&id) = self.route.last() {
+            if let Some(path) = path.strip_prefix('/') {
+                return Ok(self.root.join(path).normalize());
+            }
+
             if let Some(dir) = self.sources.get(id).path().parent() {
-                return dir.join(path);
+                return Ok(dir.join(path).normalize());
             }
         }
 
-        path.into()
+        return Err("cannot access file system from here".into());
     }
 }
 
 /// A builder for a [`Context`].
 ///
 /// This struct is created by [`Context::builder`].
+#[derive(Default)]
 pub struct ContextBuilder {
+    root: PathBuf,
     std: Option<Arc<Scope>>,
     styles: Option<Arc<StyleMap>>,
 }
 
 impl ContextBuilder {
+    /// The compilation root, relative to which absolute paths are.
+    pub fn root(&mut self, root: impl Into<PathBuf>) -> &mut Self {
+        self.root = root.into();
+        self
+    }
+
     /// The scope containing definitions that are available everywhere
     /// (the standard library).
-    pub fn std(mut self, std: impl Into<Arc<Scope>>) -> Self {
+    pub fn std(&mut self, std: impl Into<Arc<Scope>>) -> &mut Self {
         self.std = Some(std.into());
         self
     }
 
     /// The default properties for page size, font selection and so on.
-    pub fn styles(mut self, styles: impl Into<Arc<StyleMap>>) -> Self {
+    pub fn styles(&mut self, styles: impl Into<Arc<StyleMap>>) -> &mut Self {
         self.styles = Some(styles.into());
         self
     }
 
     /// Finish building the context by providing the `loader` used to load
     /// fonts, images, source files and other resources.
-    pub fn build(self, loader: Arc<dyn Loader>) -> Context {
+    pub fn build(&self, loader: Arc<dyn Loader>) -> Context {
         Context {
             sources: SourceStore::new(Arc::clone(&loader)),
             fonts: FontStore::new(Arc::clone(&loader)),
             images: ImageStore::new(Arc::clone(&loader)),
             loader,
-            std: self.std.unwrap_or_else(|| Arc::new(library::new())),
-            styles: self.styles.unwrap_or_default(),
+            root: self.root.clone(),
+            std: self.std.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| Arc::new(library::new())),
+            styles: self.styles.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
             modules: HashMap::new(),
             cache: HashMap::new(),
             route: vec![],
@@ -226,12 +242,6 @@ impl ContextBuilder {
     }
 }
 
-impl Default for ContextBuilder {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        Self { std: None, styles: None }
-    }
-}
-
 /// An entry in the query cache.
 struct CacheEntry {
     /// The query's results.
diff --git a/src/library/graphics/image.rs b/src/library/graphics/image.rs
index ee854130c..6fd465cbf 100644
--- a/src/library/graphics/image.rs
+++ b/src/library/graphics/image.rs
@@ -12,11 +12,15 @@ impl ImageNode {
     pub const FIT: ImageFit = ImageFit::Cover;
 
     fn construct(ctx: &mut Context, args: &mut Args) -> TypResult<Content> {
-        let path = args.expect::<Spanned<EcoString>>("path to image file")?;
-        let full = ctx.complete_path(&path.v);
+        let Spanned { v: path, span } =
+            args.expect::<Spanned<EcoString>>("path to image file")?;
+
+        let full = ctx.locate(&path).at(span)?;
         let id = ctx.images.load(&full).map_err(|err| match err.kind() {
-            std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => error!(path.span, "file not found"),
-            _ => error!(path.span, "failed to load image ({})", err),
+            std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {
+                error!(span, "file not found (searched at {})", full.display())
+            }
+            _ => error!(span, "failed to load image ({})", err),
         })?;
 
         let width = args.named("width")?;
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index daeff033e..59ad5a717 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -22,9 +22,10 @@ USAGE:
 
 OPTIONS:
   -h, --help     Print this help
+  --root <dir>   Configure the root for absolute paths
 
 ARGS:
-  <input.typ>    Path input Typst file
+  <input.typ>    Path to input Typst file
   [output.pdf]   Path to output PDF
 ";
 
@@ -44,9 +45,17 @@ fn main() {
 fn try_main(args: Args) -> Result<(), String> {
     // Create a loader for fonts and files.
     let mut loader = FsLoader::new();
+    let mut builder = Context::builder();
+    if let Some(root) = &args.root {
+        builder.root(root);
+    }
 
     // Search for fonts in the project directory.
     if let Some(dir) = args.input.parent() {
+        if args.root.is_none() {
+            builder.root(dir);
+        }
+
         if dir.as_os_str().is_empty() {
             // Just a filename, so directory is current directory.
             loader.search_path(".");
@@ -60,7 +69,7 @@ fn try_main(args: Args) -> Result<(), String> {
 
     // Create the context which holds loaded source files, fonts, images and
     // cached artifacts.
-    let mut ctx = Context::new(loader.wrap());
+    let mut ctx = builder.build(loader.wrap());
 
     // Ensure that the source file is not overwritten.
     if is_same_file(&args.input, &args.output).unwrap_or(false) {
@@ -94,6 +103,7 @@ fn try_main(args: Args) -> Result<(), String> {
 struct Args {
     input: PathBuf,
     output: PathBuf,
+    root: Option<PathBuf>,
 }
 
 /// Parse command line arguments.
@@ -104,7 +114,8 @@ fn parse_args() -> Result<Args, String> {
         std::process::exit(0);
     }
 
-    let input = args.free_from_str::<PathBuf>().map_err(|_| "missing input file")?;
+    let root = args.opt_value_from_str("--root").map_err(|_| "malformed root")?;
+    let input: PathBuf = args.free_from_str().map_err(|_| "missing input file")?;
     let output = match args.opt_free_from_str().ok().flatten() {
         Some(output) => output,
         None => {
@@ -118,7 +129,7 @@ fn parse_args() -> Result<Args, String> {
         Err("too many arguments")?;
     }
 
-    Ok(Args { input, output })
+    Ok(Args { input, output, root })
 }
 
 /// Print an application-level error (independent from a source file).
diff --git a/src/source.rs b/src/source.rs
index a7c952556..780e12a8b 100644
--- a/src/source.rs
+++ b/src/source.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ impl SourceStore {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Load a source file from a path using the `loader`.
+    /// Load a source file from a path relative to the compilation environment's
+    /// root.
     ///
     /// If there already exists a source file for this path, it is
     /// [replaced](SourceFile::replace).
diff --git a/tests/ref/style/set.png b/tests/ref/style/set.png
index c63ddb7c9..52512b855 100644
Binary files a/tests/ref/style/set.png and b/tests/ref/style/set.png differ
diff --git a/tests/ref/style/show-text.png b/tests/ref/style/show-text.png
index 53c9d1321..ae5230f16 100644
Binary files a/tests/ref/style/show-text.png and b/tests/ref/style/show-text.png differ
diff --git a/tests/typ/code/import.typ b/tests/typ/code/import.typ
index dab91daed..aef5e9c47 100644
--- a/tests/typ/code/import.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/code/import.typ
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@
 #import a, c, from "target.typ"
 
 ---
-// Error: 19-21 file not found
+// Error: 19-21 file not found (searched at typ/code)
 #import name from ""
 
 ---
-// Error: 16-27 file not found
+// Error: 16-27 file not found (searched at typ/code/lib/0.2.1)
 #import * from "lib/0.2.1"
 
 ---
diff --git a/tests/typ/code/include.typ b/tests/typ/code/include.typ
index 3510cb063..cd3328a23 100644
--- a/tests/typ/code/include.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/code/include.typ
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 = Document
 
 // Include a file
-#include "importable/chap1.typ"
+#include "/typ/code/importable/chap1.typ"
 
 // Expression as a file name.
 #let chap2 = include "import" + "able/chap" + "2.typ"
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 ---
 {
-  // Error: 19-41 file not found
+  // Error: 19-41 file not found (searched at typ/code/importable/chap3.typ)
   let x = include "importable/chap3.typ"
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/typ/coma.typ b/tests/typ/coma.typ
index 0e228d148..e312fc788 100644
--- a/tests/typ/coma.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/coma.typ
@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ Die Tiefe eines Knotens _v_ ist die Länge des eindeutigen Weges von der Wurzel
 zu _v_, und die Höhe von _v_ ist die Länge eines längsten (absteigenden) Weges
 von _v_ zu einem Blatt. Die Höhe des Baumes ist die Höhe der Wurzel.
 
-#align(center, image("../res/graph.png", width: 75%))
+#align(center, image("/res/graph.png", width: 75%))
diff --git a/tests/typ/graphics/image.typ b/tests/typ/graphics/image.typ
index 8817713f3..e64b6c450 100644
--- a/tests/typ/graphics/image.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/graphics/image.typ
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 // Test loading different image formats.
 
 // Load an RGBA PNG image.
-#image("../../res/rhino.png")
+#image("/res/rhino.png")
 
 // Load an RGB JPEG image.
 #set page(height: 60pt)
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@
 // Test configuring the size and fitting behaviour of images.
 
 // Set width and height explicitly.
-#image("../../res/rhino.png", width: 30pt)
-#image("../../res/rhino.png", height: 30pt)
+#image("/res/rhino.png", width: 30pt)
+#image("/res/rhino.png", height: 30pt)
 
 // Set width and height explicitly and force stretching.
-#image("../../res/monkey.svg", width: 100%, height: 20pt, fit: "stretch")
+#image("/res/monkey.svg", width: 100%, height: 20pt, fit: "stretch")
 
 // Make sure the bounding-box of the image is correct.
-#align(bottom + right, image("../../res/tiger.jpg", width: 40pt))
+#align(bottom + right, image("/res/tiger.jpg", width: 40pt))
 
 ---
 // Test all three fit modes.
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
   columns: (1fr, 1fr, 1fr),
   rows: 100%,
   gutter: 3pt,
-  image("../../res/tiger.jpg", width: 100%, height: 100%, fit: "contain"),
-  image("../../res/tiger.jpg", width: 100%, height: 100%, fit: "cover"),
-  image("../../res/monkey.svg", width: 100%, height: 100%, fit: "stretch"),
+  image("/res/tiger.jpg", width: 100%, height: 100%, fit: "contain"),
+  image("/res/tiger.jpg", width: 100%, height: 100%, fit: "cover"),
+  image("/res/monkey.svg", width: 100%, height: 100%, fit: "stretch"),
 )
 
 ---
@@ -40,18 +40,18 @@
 #set page(height: 60pt)
 Stuff \
 Stuff
-#image("../../res/rhino.png")
+#image("/res/rhino.png")
 
 ---
 // Test baseline.
-A #image("../../res/tiger.jpg", height: 1cm, width: 80%) B
+A #image("/res/tiger.jpg", height: 1cm, width: 80%) B
 
 ---
 // Test advanced SVG features.
-#image("../../res/pattern.svg")
+#image("/res/pattern.svg")
 
 ---
-// Error: 8-29 file not found
+// Error: 8-29 file not found (searched at typ/graphics/path/does/not/exist)
 #image("path/does/not/exist")
 
 ---
diff --git a/tests/typ/graphics/transform.typ b/tests/typ/graphics/transform.typ
index e06793060..5d2a1729a 100644
--- a/tests/typ/graphics/transform.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/graphics/transform.typ
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ nor #xetex!
 // Test combination of scaling and rotation.
 #set page(height: 80pt)
 #align(center + horizon,
-  rotate(20deg, scale(70%, image("../../res/tiger.jpg")))
+  rotate(20deg, scale(70%, image("/res/tiger.jpg")))
 )
 
 ---
 // Test setting rotation origin.
 #rotate(10deg, origin: top + left,
-  image("../../res/tiger.jpg", width: 50%)
+  image("/res/tiger.jpg", width: 50%)
 )
 
 ---
diff --git a/tests/typ/layout/grid-3.typ b/tests/typ/layout/grid-3.typ
index 8d04722e6..6b7dc47fd 100644
--- a/tests/typ/layout/grid-3.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/layout/grid-3.typ
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
   columns: 4 * (1fr,),
   row-gutter: 10pt,
   column-gutter: (0pt, 10%),
-  align(top, image("../../res/rhino.png")),
+  align(top, image("/res/rhino.png")),
   align(top, rect(fill: eastern, align(right)[LoL])),
   [rofl],
   [\ A] * 3,
diff --git a/tests/typ/layout/pad.typ b/tests/typ/layout/pad.typ
index 502137ec2..9791eae43 100644
--- a/tests/typ/layout/pad.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/layout/pad.typ
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Hi #box(pad(left: 10pt)[A]) there
 // Test that the pad node doesn't consume the whole region.
 #set page(height: 6cm)
 #align(left)[Before]
-#pad(10pt, image("../../res/tiger.jpg"))
+#pad(10pt, image("/res/tiger.jpg"))
 #align(right)[After]
 
 ---
diff --git a/tests/typ/layout/place-background.typ b/tests/typ/layout/place-background.typ
index f64bf0eef..fafedec1a 100644
--- a/tests/typ/layout/place-background.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/layout/place-background.typ
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
   dx: -10pt,
   dy: -10pt,
   image(
-    "../../res/tiger.jpg",
+    "/res/tiger.jpg",
     fit: "cover",
     width: 100% + 20pt,
     height: 100% + 20pt,
diff --git a/tests/typ/layout/place.typ b/tests/typ/layout/place.typ
index 95049bdc6..58f9d06d5 100644
--- a/tests/typ/layout/place.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/layout/place.typ
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #place(bottom + center)[© Typst]
 
 = Placement
-#place(right, image("../../res/tiger.jpg", width: 1.8cm))
+#place(right, image("/res/tiger.jpg", width: 1.8cm))
 Hi there. This is \
 a placed node. \
 Unfortunately, \
diff --git a/tests/typ/style/set.typ b/tests/typ/style/set.typ
index 2c12d3e97..830c66618 100644
--- a/tests/typ/style/set.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/style/set.typ
@@ -36,6 +36,18 @@ Hello *{x}*
   [Not blue]
 }
 
+---
+// Test relative path resolving in layout phase.
+#let choice = ("monkey.svg", "rhino.png", "tiger.jpg")
+#set enum(label: n => {
+  let path = "../../res/" + choice(n - 1)
+  move(dy: -0.15em, image(path, width: 1em, height: 1em))
+})
+
+. Monkey
+. Rhino
+. Tiger
+
 ---
 // Error: 11-25 set is only allowed directly in code and content blocks
 { let x = set text(blue) }
diff --git a/tests/typ/style/show-text.typ b/tests/typ/style/show-text.typ
index f4ecb7e11..283a28879 100644
--- a/tests/typ/style/show-text.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/style/show-text.typ
@@ -56,3 +56,10 @@ Rust is memory-safe and blazingly fast. Let's rewrite everything in rust.
 
 World
 - World
+
+---
+// Test absolute path in layout phase.
+
+#show "GRAPH" as image("/res/graph.png")
+
+The GRAPH has nodes.
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/bidi.typ b/tests/typ/text/bidi.typ
index 7058638ac..11c0cafa1 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/bidi.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/bidi.typ
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Lריווח #h(1cm) R
 ---
 // Test inline object.
 #set text(lang: "he", "IBM Plex Serif")
-קרנפיםRh#image("../../res/rhino.png", height: 11pt)inoחיים
+קרנפיםRh#image("/res/rhino.png", height: 11pt)inoחיים
 
 ---
 // Test whether L1 whitespace resetting destroys stuff.
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/indent.typ b/tests/typ/text/indent.typ
index 897e360cc..92b121803 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/indent.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/indent.typ
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ The first paragraph has no indent.
 
 But the second one does.
 
-#image("../../res/tiger.jpg", height: 6pt)
+#image("/res/tiger.jpg", height: 6pt)
 starts a paragraph without indent.
 
-#align(center, image("../../res/rhino.png", width: 1cm))
+#align(center, image("/res/rhino.png", width: 1cm))
 
 = Headings
 - And lists.
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/link.typ b/tests/typ/text/link.typ
index ad5381877..64697bff5 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/link.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/link.typ
@@ -31,5 +31,5 @@ My cool #move(dx: 0.7cm, dy: 0.7cm, rotate(10deg, scale(200%, mylink)))
 // Link containing a block.
 #link("https://example.com/", underline: false, block[
   My cool rhino
-  #move(dx: 10pt, image("../../res/rhino.png", width: 1cm))
+  #move(dx: 10pt, image("/res/rhino.png", width: 1cm))
 ])