diff --git a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/serialize.rktl b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/serialize.rktl
index 70d4c87ae9..ba9b700027 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/serialize.rktl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/serialize.rktl
@@ -622,9 +622,14 @@
                                    "              #:" rel-mode "relative-directory"
                                    "              (find-system-path 'temp-dir))))\n"))))
       (define s (dynamic-require `(submod ,fn main) 's))
+      (define-values (in out) (make-pipe))
+      (write s out)
+      (close-output-port out)
+      (define read-s (read in))
       (define foo? (dynamic-require `(submod ,fn main) 'foo?))
       (parameterize ([current-load-relative-directory (find-system-path 'temp-dir)])
-        (test #t 'relative-dir (foo? (deserialize s))))
+        (test #t 'relative-dir (foo? (deserialize s)))
+        (test #t 'relative-dir (foo? (deserialize read-s))))
       (test (if fail-rel? 'correct-error 'worked)
             'unrelative-dir
             (with-handlers ([exn:fail:contract?
@@ -645,6 +650,18 @@
        (serialize (build-path (find-system-path 'temp-dir) "home" "hotdogs")
                   #:relative-directory (build-path (find-system-path 'temp-dir) "home"))))
 
+;; Serialize as relative, test for readability
+(let ([s (serialize (build-path (find-system-path 'temp-dir) "home" "hotdogs")
+                    #:relative-directory (build-path (find-system-path 'temp-dir) "home"))])
+  (define-values (in out) (make-pipe))
+  (write s out)
+  (close-output-port out)
+  (test (build-path (or (current-load-relative-directory)
+                        (current-directory))
+                    "hotdogs")
+        'read-path-data
+        (deserialize (read in))))
+
 ;; don't serialize as relative
 (test (build-path (find-system-path 'temp-dir) "home" "hotdogs")
       'path-data
diff --git a/racket/collects/racket/fasl.rkt b/racket/collects/racket/fasl.rkt
index 1bcd0b5d1f..1c4079d7de 100644
--- a/racket/collects/racket/fasl.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/racket/fasl.rkt
@@ -211,8 +211,7 @@
            (cond
              [rel-elems
               (write-byte fasl-relative-path-type o)
-              (loop (for/list ([p (in-list rel-elems)])
-                      (if (path? p) (path-element->bytes p) p)))]
+              (loop rel-elems)]
              [else
               (write-byte fasl-path-type o)
               (write-fasl-bytes (path->bytes v) o)
diff --git a/racket/collects/racket/private/relative-path.rkt b/racket/collects/racket/private/relative-path.rkt
index 397c589930..593747bce3 100644
--- a/racket/collects/racket/private/relative-path.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/racket/private/relative-path.rkt
@@ -52,10 +52,11 @@
                    (let loop ([exploded-wrt-rel-dir exploded-wrt-rel-dir]
                               [rel (list-tail exploded (length exploded-base-dir))])
                      (cond
-                       [(null? exploded-wrt-rel-dir) rel]
+                       [(null? exploded-wrt-rel-dir) (map path-element->bytes rel)]
                        [(and (pair? rel)
                              (equal? (car rel) (car exploded-wrt-rel-dir)))
                         (loop (cdr exploded-wrt-rel-dir) (cdr rel))]
                        [else (append (for/list ([p (in-list exploded-wrt-rel-dir)])
                                        'up)
-                                     rel)]))))))]))
+                                     (for/list ([p (in-list rel)])
+                                       (if (path? p) (path-element->bytes p) p)))]))))))]))