diff --git a/src/extensions/score_source_code_linker/needlinks.py b/src/extensions/score_source_code_linker/needlinks.py
index 2998240fc..71304cca9 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_source_code_linker/needlinks.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_source_code_linker/needlinks.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 # req-Id: tool_req__docs_dd_link_source_code_link
 
 import json
-import os
 from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, TypedDict, TypeGuard
@@ -176,13 +175,11 @@ def load_source_code_links_with_metadata_json(file: Path) -> list[NeedLink]:
       [ meta_dict, needlink1, needlink2, ... ]
     Returns:
       [NeedLink, NeedLink, ...]
-
-    This normally should be the one called 'locally' => :docs target
     """
-    if not file.is_absolute():
-        ws_root = os.environ.get("BUILD_WORKSPACE_DIRECTORY")
-        if ws_root:
-            file = Path(ws_root) / file
+
+    # Bazel passes an absolute path (``$(location :sourcelinks_json)`` under
+    # ``bazel run``) or an execroot-relative path (sandbox, where CWD *is* the
+    # execroot); both are usable as ``Path(file)`` directly.
 
     data: list[object] = json.loads(
         file.read_text(encoding="utf-8"),
@@ -219,12 +216,6 @@ def load_source_code_links_json(file: Path) -> list[NeedLink]:
 
     This is used when mounted external documentation contributes source links.
     """
-    if not file.is_absolute():
-        # use env variable set by Bazel
-        ws_root = os.environ.get("BUILD_WORKSPACE_DIRECTORY")
-        if ws_root:
-            file = Path(ws_root) / file
-
     links: list[NeedLink] = json.loads(
         file.read_text(encoding="utf-8"),
         object_hook=needlink_decoder,
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_source_code_linker/tests/test_codelink.py b/src/extensions/score_source_code_linker/tests/test_codelink.py
index 5f2e9fed2..56785e042 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_source_code_linker/tests/test_codelink.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_source_code_linker/tests/test_codelink.py
@@ -759,10 +759,8 @@ def test_load_with_metadata_invalid_items_after_metadata(tmp_path: Path):
 #            ────────────────[ File Path Resolution Tests ]────────────────
 
 
-def test_load_resolves_relative_path_with_env_var(
-    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
-):
-    """Test if relative path is resolved using BUILD_WORKSPACE_DIRECTORY"""
+def test_load_resolves_absolute_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """Absolute paths (as emitted by Bazel via ``$(location)``) load directly."""
     workspace = tmp_path / "workspace"
     workspace.mkdir()
 
@@ -776,22 +774,18 @@ def test_load_resolves_relative_path_with_env_var(
         )
     ]
 
-    # Store in workspace
+    # Store in workspace and load via its absolute path.
     cache_file = workspace / "cache.json"
     store_source_code_links_json(cache_file, needlinks)
 
-    # Set env var and load with relative path
-    monkeypatch.setenv("BUILD_WORKSPACE_DIRECTORY", str(workspace))
-    loaded = load_source_code_links_json(Path("cache.json"))
+    loaded = load_source_code_links_json(cache_file)
 
     assert len(loaded) == 1
     assert loaded[0].need == "REQ_1"
 
 
-def test_load_with_metadata_resolves_relative_path(
-    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
-):
-    """Edge case: load_with_metadata resolves relative paths using env var"""
+def test_load_with_metadata_absolute_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """Absolute path: load_with_metadata reads the file directly."""
     workspace = tmp_path / "workspace"
     workspace.mkdir()
 
@@ -813,8 +807,7 @@ def test_load_with_metadata_resolves_relative_path(
     cache_file = workspace / "metadata_cache.json"
     store_source_code_links_with_metadata_json(cache_file, metadata, needlinks)
 
-    monkeypatch.setenv("BUILD_WORKSPACE_DIRECTORY", str(workspace))
-    loaded = load_source_code_links_with_metadata_json(Path("metadata_cache.json"))
+    loaded = load_source_code_links_with_metadata_json(cache_file)
 
     assert len(loaded) == 1
     assert loaded[0].repo_name == "mod"