diff --git a/lua/harpoon/config.lua b/lua/harpoon/config.lua
index 5f89a2fd..6383839e 100644
--- a/lua/harpoon/config.lua
+++ b/lua/harpoon/config.lua
@@ -77,7 +77,12 @@ function M.get_default_config()
             ---@param str string
             ---@return HarpoonListItem
             decode = function(str)
-                return vim.json.decode(str)
+                local decodedItem = vim.json.decode(str)
+
+                -- NOTE: prevents this absolute path sometimes bug by forcing
+                -- everything to be absolute path always
+                decodedItem.value = vim.loop.fs_realpath(decodedItem.value)
+                return decodedItem
             end,
 
             ---@param list_item HarpoonListItem
diff --git a/lua/harpoon/list.lua b/lua/harpoon/list.lua
index 1578e156..191e8632 100644
--- a/lua/harpoon/list.lua
+++ b/lua/harpoon/list.lua
@@ -360,11 +360,6 @@ function HarpoonList.decode(list_config, name, items)
     local list_items = {}
 
     for _, item in ipairs(items) do
-        -- this is here to prevent a breaking change by converting saved relative paths to absolute. remove after some time
-        local decodedItem = vim.json.decode(item)
-        decodedItem.value = vim.loop.fs_realpath(decodedItem.value)
-        item = vim.json.encode(decodedItem)
-
         table.insert(list_items, list_config.decode(item))
     end