diff --git a/engine/artifact_manager.py b/engine/artifact_manager.py
index e344cd1..59caa72 100644
--- a/engine/artifact_manager.py
+++ b/engine/artifact_manager.py
@@ -23,14 +23,16 @@ class ArtifactManager:
             normalized_pattern = pattern.replace("\\", "/")
             segments = [segment for segment in normalized_pattern.split("/") if segment and segment != "."]
             prefix: list[str] = []
+            saw_glob = False
             for segment in segments:
                 if any(char in segment for char in "*?["):
+                    saw_glob = True
                     break
                 prefix.append(segment)
-            if prefix:
-                roots.append(root_dir.joinpath(*prefix))
-                continue
-            roots.append(root_dir)
+            candidate = root_dir.joinpath(*prefix) if prefix else root_dir
+            if prefix and not saw_glob and (not candidate.exists() or candidate.is_file()):
+                candidate = candidate.parent
+            roots.append(candidate)
         minimal_roots: list[Path] = []
         for root in sorted(set(roots), key=lambda candidate: (len(candidate.parts), candidate.as_posix())):
             if any(existing == root or existing in root.parents for existing in minimal_roots):