diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/template_url.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/template_url.py
index d99e2f328..ae625153b 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/template_url.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/template_url.py
@@ -84,6 +84,14 @@ def transform_url(template_type: str, identifier: str, flake: Flake) -> tuple[st
         flake_ref = str(flake.path)
 
     if "#" not in identifier:
+        # ./ . or ../ .. are relative paths
+        if (
+            identifier.startswith(("./", "../"))
+            or identifier == "."
+            or identifier == ".."
+        ):
+            return (identifier, f"clan.templates.{template_type}.default")
+
         # No fragment, so we assume its a builtin template
         return (flake_ref, f'clanInternals.templates.{template_type}."{selector}"')
 
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/template_url_test.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/template_url_test.py
index de8a7e7b9..acc203501 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/template_url_test.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/templates/template_url_test.py
@@ -182,3 +182,69 @@ def test_locked_input_template_no_dot() -> None:
     )
     assert selector == expected_selector
     assert flake_ref == str(local_path.path)
+
+
+def test_explizit_path_default_minimal_rel_1() -> None:
+    user_input = "."
+    expected_selector = "clan.templates.machine.default"
+
+    flake_ref, selector = transform_url(
+        machine_template_type, user_input, flake=local_path
+    )
+    assert selector == expected_selector
+    assert flake_ref == user_input
+
+
+def test_explizit_path_default_minimal_rel_2() -> None:
+    user_input = "./"
+    expected_selector = "clan.templates.machine.default"
+
+    flake_ref, selector = transform_url(
+        machine_template_type, user_input, flake=local_path
+    )
+    assert selector == expected_selector
+    assert flake_ref == user_input
+
+
+def test_explizit_path_default_minimal_parent_1() -> None:
+    user_input = ".."
+    expected_selector = "clan.templates.machine.default"
+
+    flake_ref, selector = transform_url(
+        machine_template_type, user_input, flake=local_path
+    )
+    assert selector == expected_selector
+    assert flake_ref == user_input
+
+
+def test_explizit_path_default_minimal_parent_2() -> None:
+    user_input = "../"
+    expected_selector = "clan.templates.machine.default"
+
+    flake_ref, selector = transform_url(
+        machine_template_type, user_input, flake=local_path
+    )
+    assert selector == expected_selector
+    assert flake_ref == user_input
+
+
+def test_internal_dot_template() -> None:
+    user_input = ".internal"
+    expected_selector = 'clanInternals.templates.machine.".internal"'
+
+    flake_ref, selector = transform_url(
+        machine_template_type, user_input, flake=local_path
+    )
+    assert selector == expected_selector
+    assert flake_ref == str(local_path.path)
+
+
+def test_explizit_path_default() -> None:
+    user_input = "./path/to/flake"
+    expected_selector = "clan.templates.machine.default"
+
+    flake_ref, selector = transform_url(
+        machine_template_type, user_input, flake=local_path
+    )
+    assert selector == expected_selector
+    assert flake_ref == user_input