diff --git a/lua/orgmode/org/links/types/headline_search.lua b/lua/orgmode/org/links/types/headline_search.lua
index e1d517a27..5878dc53e 100644
--- a/lua/orgmode/org/links/types/headline_search.lua
+++ b/lua/orgmode/org/links/types/headline_search.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 local utils = require('orgmode.utils')
+local fs = require('orgmode.utils.fs')
 local OrgLinkUrl = require('orgmode.org.links.url')
 local link_utils = require('orgmode.org.links.utils')
 
@@ -74,6 +75,19 @@ function OrgLinkHeadlineSearch:autocomplete(link)
         f = f:gsub('^' .. opts.file_path, opts.link_url.path)
         table.insert(valid_filenames, f)
       end
+
+      local real_path = opts.link_url:get_real_path()
+
+      if not real_path then
+        local substitute_path = fs.substitute_path(opts.file_path)
+        if substitute_path then
+          local full_path = vim.fn.fnamemodify(substitute_path, ':p')
+          if f:find('^' .. full_path) then
+            f = f:gsub('^' .. full_path, opts.link_url.path)
+            table.insert(valid_filenames, f)
+          end
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     local prefix = opts.link_url:get_protocol() == 'file' and 'file:' or ''
diff --git a/lua/orgmode/org/links/url.lua b/lua/orgmode/org/links/url.lua
index e188c82c9..b5d3d5ef4 100644
--- a/lua/orgmode/org/links/url.lua
+++ b/lua/orgmode/org/links/url.lua
@@ -20,20 +20,20 @@ end
 ---@return string | nil
 function OrgLinkUrl:get_file_path()
   if self.protocol == 'file' then
-    return self:_get_real_path()
+    return self:get_real_path() or self.path
   end
 
   local first_char = self.path:sub(1, 1)
 
   if first_char == '/' then
-    return self:_get_real_path()
+    return self:get_real_path() or self.path
   end
 
   if
     (first_char == '.' and (self.path:sub(1, 3) == '../' or self.path:sub(1, 2) == './'))
     or (first_char == '~' and self.path:sub(2, 2) == '/')
   then
-    return self:_get_real_path()
+    return self:get_real_path() or self.path
   end
 
   return nil
@@ -76,10 +76,8 @@ function OrgLinkUrl:get_id()
   return self.path
 end
 
----@private
----@return string
-function OrgLinkUrl:_get_real_path()
-  return fs.get_real_path(self.path) or self.path
+function OrgLinkUrl:get_real_path()
+  return fs.get_real_path(self.path) or nil
 end
 
 ---@return string