diff --git a/src/buildstream/_loader/loader.py b/src/buildstream/_loader/loader.py
index 76b1b7649..af98504cc 100644
--- a/src/buildstream/_loader/loader.py
+++ b/src/buildstream/_loader/loader.py
@@ -168,6 +168,11 @@ def load(self, targets):
 
         return target_elements
 
+    def _normalize_element_name(self, filename):
+        # Keep equivalent relative spellings on the same loader identity path,
+        # so ref lookup, cache keys and workspace handling stay consistent.
+        return os.path.normpath(filename)
+
     # get_loader():
     #
     # Obtains the appropriate loader for the specified junction
@@ -400,6 +405,8 @@ def _expand_link(self, path):
     #
     def _load_one_file(self, filename, provenance_node, *, load_subprojects=True):
 
+        filename = self._normalize_element_name(filename)
+
         element = None
 
         # First check the cache, the cache might contain shallow loaded
@@ -1013,10 +1020,10 @@ def _parse_name(self, name, provenance_node, *, load_subprojects=True):
         # to create junctions on the top level project.
         junction_path = name.rsplit(":", 1)
         if len(junction_path) == 1:
-            return None, junction_path[-1], self
+            return None, self._normalize_element_name(junction_path[-1]), self
         else:
             loader = self.get_loader(junction_path[-2], provenance_node, load_subprojects=load_subprojects)
-            return junction_path[-2], junction_path[-1], loader
+            return junction_path[-2], self._normalize_element_name(junction_path[-1]), loader
 
     # _warn():
     #
diff --git a/tests/frontend/show.py b/tests/frontend/show.py
index e48b6a169..854dc9f3c 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/show.py
+++ b/tests/frontend/show.py
@@ -55,6 +55,24 @@ def test_show(cli, datafiles, target, fmt, expected):
         raise AssertionError("Expected output:\n{}\nInstead received output:\n{}".format(expected, result.output))
 
 
+@pytest.mark.datafiles(os.path.join(DATA_DIR, "project"))
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "canonical,dotted",
+    [
+        ("target.bst", "./target.bst"),
+        ("target.bst", "././target.bst"),
+        ("multiple_targets/dependency/pony.bst", "multiple_targets/./dependency/pony.bst"),
+        ("multiple_targets/dependency/pony.bst", "./multiple_targets/dependency/pony.bst"),
+        ("multiple_targets/dependency/pony.bst", "multiple_targets/dependency/./pony.bst"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_show_equivalent_target_spellings_use_same_identity(cli, datafiles, canonical, dotted):
+    project = str(datafiles)
+
+    assert cli.get_element_key(project, canonical) == cli.get_element_key(project, dotted)
+    assert cli.get_element_state(project, canonical) == cli.get_element_state(project, dotted)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.datafiles(
     os.path.join(
         os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)),
@@ -294,6 +312,25 @@ def test_unfetched_junction(cli, tmpdir, datafiles, ref_storage, element_name, w
     result.assert_success()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.datafiles(os.path.join(DATA_DIR, "project"))
+def test_show_dot_slash_junction_uses_same_ref_lookup(cli, tmpdir, datafiles):
+    project = str(datafiles)
+    subproject_path = os.path.join(project, "files", "sub-project")
+    junction_path = os.path.join(project, "elements", "junction.bst")
+
+    configure_project(project, {"ref-storage": "project.refs"})
+
+    ref = generate_junction(tmpdir, subproject_path, junction_path, store_ref=False)
+    project_refs = {"projects": {"test": {"junction.bst": [{"ref": ref}]}}}
+    _yaml.roundtrip_dump(project_refs, os.path.join(project, "junction.refs"))
+
+    state = cli.get_element_state(project, "junction.bst")
+    dot_state = cli.get_element_state(project, "./junction.bst")
+
+    assert state == dot_state
+    assert state != "no reference"
+
+
 @pytest.mark.datafiles(os.path.join(DATA_DIR, "project"))
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("ref_storage", [("inline"), ("project.refs")])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("workspaced", [True, False], ids=["workspace", "no-workspace"])