diff --git a/include/loot/game_interface.h b/include/loot/game_interface.h
index a6715dbb..1252ecd0 100644
--- a/include/loot/game_interface.h
+++ b/include/loot/game_interface.h
@@ -147,8 +147,11 @@ public:
    *  @brief Identify the game's main master file.
    *  @details When sorting, LOOT always only loads the headers of the game's
    *           main master file as a performance optimisation.
+   *
+   *           A relative path is resolved relative to the game's plugins
+   *           directory, while an absolute path is used as given.
    */
-  virtual void IdentifyMainMasterFile(const std::string& masterFile) = 0;
+  virtual void IdentifyMainMasterFile(const std::filesystem::path& masterFile) = 0;
 
   /**
    *  @brief Calculates a new load order for the game's installed plugins
diff --git a/src/api/game/game.cpp b/src/api/game/game.cpp
index 18b8cb04..52a0dca2 100644
--- a/src/api/game/game.cpp
+++ b/src/api/game/game.cpp
@@ -161,35 +161,6 @@ std::vector<std::filesystem::path> FindArchives(
 
   return archivePaths;
 }
-
-std::filesystem::path FindPlugin(
-    GameType gameType,
-    const std::filesystem::path& dataPath,
-    const std::vector<std::filesystem::path>& additionalDataPaths,
-    const std::string& pluginName) {
-  const auto relativePath = std::filesystem::u8path(pluginName);
-
-  const auto finder = [&](const auto& path) {
-    const auto resolvedPath = ResolvePluginPath(gameType, path, relativePath);
-    return std::filesystem::exists(resolvedPath);
-  };
-
-  if (gameType == GameType::openmw) {
-    const auto it = std::find_if(
-        additionalDataPaths.rbegin(), additionalDataPaths.rend(), finder);
-    if (it != additionalDataPaths.rend()) {
-      return *it;
-    }
-  } else {
-    const auto it = std::find_if(
-        additionalDataPaths.begin(), additionalDataPaths.end(), finder);
-    if (it != additionalDataPaths.end()) {
-      return *it;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return dataPath / relativePath;
-}
 }
 
 namespace loot {
@@ -295,12 +266,6 @@ void Game::LoadPlugins(const std::vector<std::filesystem::path>& pluginPaths,
     logger->trace("Starting plugin loading.");
   }
 
-  const auto masterPath = GetType() == GameType::openmw
-                              ? FindPlugin(GetType(),
-                                           DataPath(),
-                                           GetAdditionalDataPaths(),
-                                           masterFilename_)
-                              : DataPath() / u8path(masterFilename_);
   std::for_each(
       std::execution::par_unseq,
       pluginPaths.begin(),
@@ -312,7 +277,7 @@ void Game::LoadPlugins(const std::vector<std::filesystem::path>& pluginPaths,
 
           const bool loadHeader =
               loadHeadersOnly ||
-              loot::equivalent(resolvedPluginPath, masterPath);
+              loot::equivalent(resolvedPluginPath, masterFilePath_);
 
           cache_.AddPlugin(
               Plugin(GetType(), cache_, resolvedPluginPath, loadHeader));
@@ -352,8 +317,8 @@ std::vector<const PluginInterface*> Game::GetLoadedPlugins() const {
   return interfacePointers;
 }
 
-void Game::IdentifyMainMasterFile(const std::string& masterFile) {
-  masterFilename_ = masterFile;
+void Game::IdentifyMainMasterFile(const std::filesystem::path& masterFile) {
+  masterFilePath_ = ResolvePluginPath(GetType(), DataPath(), masterFile);
 }
 
 std::vector<std::string> Game::SortPlugins(
diff --git a/src/api/game/game.h b/src/api/game/game.h
index 0a00ff1f..5c0c48a2 100644
--- a/src/api/game/game.h
+++ b/src/api/game/game.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public:
 
   std::vector<const PluginInterface*> GetLoadedPlugins() const override;
 
-  void IdentifyMainMasterFile(const std::string& masterFile) override;
+  void IdentifyMainMasterFile(const std::filesystem::path& masterFile) override;
 
   std::vector<std::string> SortPlugins(
       const std::vector<std::filesystem::path>& pluginPaths) override;
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ private:
   std::shared_ptr<ConditionEvaluator> conditionEvaluator_;
   ApiDatabase database_;
 
-  std::string masterFilename_;
+  std::filesystem::path masterFilePath_;
 
   std::vector<std::filesystem::path> additionalDataPaths_;
 };
diff --git a/src/tests/api/internals/metadata/condition_evaluator_test.h b/src/tests/api/internals/metadata/condition_evaluator_test.h
index 2daa1e7a..219e653c 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/internals/metadata/condition_evaluator_test.h
+++ b/src/tests/api/internals/metadata/condition_evaluator_test.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ protected:
       plugins.push_back(blankEsl);
     }
 
-    game_.IdentifyMainMasterFile(masterFile);
+    game_.IdentifyMainMasterFile(std::filesystem::u8path(masterFile));
     game_.LoadCurrentLoadOrderState();
     game_.LoadPlugins(plugins, true);
   }
diff --git a/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sort_test.h b/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sort_test.h
index 44e3fcf6..890ed793 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sort_test.h
+++ b/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sort_test.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ protected:
       }
     }
 
-    game.IdentifyMainMasterFile(masterFile);
+    game.IdentifyMainMasterFile(std::filesystem::u8path(masterFile));
     game.LoadCurrentLoadOrderState();
     game.LoadPlugins(plugins, headersOnly);
   }
diff --git a/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sorting_data_test.h b/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sorting_data_test.h
index e0198b4e..790a74ca 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sorting_data_test.h
+++ b/src/tests/api/internals/sorting/plugin_sorting_data_test.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ protected:
       }
     }
 
-    game.IdentifyMainMasterFile(masterFile);
+    game.IdentifyMainMasterFile(std::filesystem::u8path(masterFile));
     game.LoadCurrentLoadOrderState();
     game.LoadPlugins(plugins, headersOnly);
   }