diff --git a/internal/pkg/extensions/testdata/good/extension1/rootfs/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 b/internal/pkg/extensions/testdata/good/extension1/rootfs/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/internal/pkg/extensions/validate.go b/internal/pkg/extensions/validate.go
index 9134573cf..763614242 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/extensions/validate.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/extensions/validate.go
@@ -76,13 +76,11 @@ func (ext *Extension) validateContents() error {
 
 		// regular file: check for file path being whitelisted
 		if !d.IsDir() {
-			dirPath := filepath.Dir(itemPath)
-
 			allowed := false
 
 			for _, allowedPath := range extensions.AllowedPaths {
-				if strings.HasPrefix(dirPath, allowedPath) {
-					_, err = filepath.Rel(allowedPath, dirPath)
+				if strings.HasPrefix(itemPath, allowedPath) {
+					_, err = filepath.Rel(allowedPath, itemPath)
 					if err == nil {
 						allowed = true