diff --git a/core/repair_jobs/dead_file_cleaner.py b/core/repair_jobs/dead_file_cleaner.py
index 3da58fc9..de87758b 100644
--- a/core/repair_jobs/dead_file_cleaner.py
+++ b/core/repair_jobs/dead_file_cleaner.py
@@ -56,6 +56,19 @@ class DeadFileCleanerJob(RepairJob):
     def scan(self, context: JobContext) -> JobResult:
         result = JobResult()
 
+        # Safety: abort if transfer folder doesn't exist — prevents mass false positives
+        if not context.transfer_folder or not os.path.isdir(context.transfer_folder):
+            logger.error("Transfer folder not found: %s — aborting dead file scan to avoid false positives",
+                         context.transfer_folder)
+            result.errors += 1
+            if context.report_progress:
+                context.report_progress(
+                    phase='Aborted — transfer folder not found',
+                    log_line=f'Transfer folder does not exist: {context.transfer_folder}',
+                    log_type='error'
+                )
+            return result
+
         # Fetch all tracks with file paths, joining to get artist/album names
         tracks = []
         conn = None
diff --git a/core/repair_worker.py b/core/repair_worker.py
index 0fb4361f..1f20b867 100644
--- a/core/repair_worker.py
+++ b/core/repair_worker.py
@@ -500,8 +500,11 @@ class RepairWorker:
         self._current_job_name = job.display_name
         self._current_progress = {'scanned': 0, 'total': 0, 'percent': 0}
 
-        # Re-read transfer path
-        raw = self._get_transfer_path_from_db()
+        # Re-read transfer path — prefer config_manager (same source as web_server)
+        if self._config_manager:
+            raw = self._config_manager.get('soulseek.transfer_path', './Transfer')
+        else:
+            raw = self._get_transfer_path_from_db()
         self.transfer_folder = self._resolve_path(raw)
 
         # Notify rich progress system