diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
index 0e98ed6fc533c..945bae56b63de 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
@@ -1076,9 +1076,8 @@ This is a one-time fix-up, please be patient...
           // if it fails at this point, though, dont' worry because it
           // may well be an optional dep that has gone missing.  it'll
           // fail later anyway.
-          const from = fromPath(placed)
           promises.push(...this[_problemEdges](placed).map(e =>
-            this[_fetchManifest](npa.resolve(e.name, e.spec, from))
+            this[_fetchManifest](npa.resolve(e.name, e.spec, fromPath(placed, e)))
               .catch(er => null)))
         },
       })
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/dep-valid.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/dep-valid.js
index c69ab557ae491..d02f397fcdf17 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/dep-valid.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/dep-valid.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const depValid = (child, requested, requestor) => {
       // file: deps that depend on other files/dirs, we must resolve the
       // location based on the *requestor* file/dir, not where it ends up.
       // '' is equivalent to '*'
-      requested = npa.resolve(child.name, requested || '*', fromPath(requestor))
+      requested = npa.resolve(child.name, requested || '*', fromPath(requestor, requestor.edgesOut.get(child.name)))
     } catch (er) {
       // Not invalid because the child doesn't match, but because
       // the spec itself is not supported.  Nothing would match,
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/from-path.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/from-path.js
index 2a3617844c001..1006f73af3d07 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/from-path.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/from-path.js
@@ -6,8 +6,19 @@
 const { dirname } = require('path')
 const npa = require('npm-package-arg')
 
-const fromPath = (node, spec) =>
-  spec && spec.type === 'file' ? dirname(spec.fetchSpec)
-  : node.realpath
+const fromPath = (node, spec, edge) => {
+  if (edge && edge.overrides && edge.overrides.name === edge.name && edge.overrides.value) {
+    // fromPath could be called with a node that has a virtual root, if that happens
+    // we want to make sure we get the real root node when overrides are in use. this
+    // is to allow things like overriding a dependency with a tarball file that's a
+    // relative path from the project root
+    return node.sourceReference
+      ? node.sourceReference.root.realpath
+      : node.root.realpath
+  }
 
-module.exports = node => fromPath(node, node.resolved && npa(node.resolved))
+  return spec && spec.type === 'file' ? dirname(spec.fetchSpec)
+    : node.realpath
+}
+
+module.exports = (node, edge) => fromPath(node, node.resolved && npa(node.resolved), edge)
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/edge.js.test.cjs b/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/edge.js.test.cjs
index 6feae28b570d6..17dc0b0c9fb0b 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/edge.js.test.cjs
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/tap-snapshots/test/edge.js.test.cjs
@@ -88,6 +88,27 @@ Edge {
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+    "root": Object {
+      "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+      "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+      "edgesIn": Set {},
+      "edgesOut": Map {
+        "missing" => Edge {
+          "peerConflicted": false,
+        },
+      },
+      "explain": Function explain(),
+      "isTop": true,
+      "name": "top",
+      "package": Object {
+        "name": "top",
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
+      "packageName": "top",
+      "parent": null,
+      "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "version": "1.2.3",
+    },
     "version": "1.2.3",
   },
   "invalid": false,
@@ -188,6 +209,27 @@ Edge {
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+    "root": Object {
+      "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+      "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+      "edgesIn": Set {},
+      "edgesOut": Map {
+        "missing" => Edge {
+          "peerConflicted": false,
+        },
+      },
+      "explain": Function explain(),
+      "isTop": true,
+      "name": "top",
+      "package": Object {
+        "name": "top",
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
+      "packageName": "top",
+      "parent": null,
+      "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "version": "1.2.3",
+    },
     "version": "1.2.3",
   },
   "invalid": true,
@@ -345,6 +387,27 @@ Edge {
         "version": "1.2.3",
       },
       "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "root": Object {
+        "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+        "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+        "edgesIn": Set {},
+        "edgesOut": Map {
+          "missing" => Edge {
+            "peerConflicted": false,
+          },
+        },
+        "explain": Function explain(),
+        "isTop": true,
+        "name": "top",
+        "package": Object {
+          "name": "top",
+          "version": "1.2.3",
+        },
+        "packageName": "top",
+        "parent": null,
+        "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
@@ -414,6 +477,27 @@ Edge {
         "version": "1.2.3",
       },
       "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "root": Object {
+        "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+        "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+        "edgesIn": Set {},
+        "edgesOut": Map {
+          "missing" => Edge {
+            "peerConflicted": false,
+          },
+        },
+        "explain": Function explain(),
+        "isTop": true,
+        "name": "top",
+        "package": Object {
+          "name": "top",
+          "version": "1.2.3",
+        },
+        "packageName": "top",
+        "parent": null,
+        "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
@@ -614,6 +698,27 @@ Edge {
         "version": "1.2.3",
       },
       "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "root": Object {
+        "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+        "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+        "edgesIn": Set {},
+        "edgesOut": Map {
+          "missing" => Edge {
+            "peerConflicted": false,
+          },
+        },
+        "explain": Function explain(),
+        "isTop": true,
+        "name": "top",
+        "package": Object {
+          "name": "top",
+          "version": "1.2.3",
+        },
+        "packageName": "top",
+        "parent": null,
+        "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
@@ -697,6 +802,27 @@ Edge {
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+    "root": Object {
+      "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+      "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+      "edgesIn": Set {},
+      "edgesOut": Map {
+        "a" => Edge {
+          "peerConflicted": false,
+        },
+      },
+      "explain": Function explain(),
+      "isTop": true,
+      "name": "top",
+      "package": Object {
+        "name": "top",
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
+      "packageName": "top",
+      "parent": null,
+      "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "version": "1.2.3",
+    },
     "version": "1.2.3",
   },
   "type": "peer",
@@ -748,6 +874,27 @@ Edge {
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+    "root": Object {
+      "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+      "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+      "edgesIn": Set {},
+      "edgesOut": Map {
+        "missing" => Edge {
+          "peerConflicted": false,
+        },
+      },
+      "explain": Function explain(),
+      "isTop": true,
+      "name": "top",
+      "package": Object {
+        "name": "top",
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
+      "packageName": "top",
+      "parent": null,
+      "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "version": "1.2.3",
+    },
     "version": "1.2.3",
   },
   "invalid": false,
@@ -814,6 +961,27 @@ Edge {
         "version": "1.2.3",
       },
       "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "root": Object {
+        "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+        "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+        "edgesIn": Set {},
+        "edgesOut": Map {
+          "missing" => Edge {
+            "peerConflicted": false,
+          },
+        },
+        "explain": Function explain(),
+        "isTop": true,
+        "name": "top",
+        "package": Object {
+          "name": "top",
+          "version": "1.2.3",
+        },
+        "packageName": "top",
+        "parent": null,
+        "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
@@ -868,6 +1036,27 @@ Edge {
       "version": "1.2.3",
     },
     "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+    "root": Object {
+      "addEdgeIn": Function addEdgeIn(edge),
+      "addEdgeOut": Function addEdgeOut(edge),
+      "edgesIn": Set {},
+      "edgesOut": Map {
+        "missing" => Edge {
+          "peerConflicted": false,
+        },
+      },
+      "explain": Function explain(),
+      "isTop": true,
+      "name": "top",
+      "package": Object {
+        "name": "top",
+        "version": "1.2.3",
+      },
+      "packageName": "top",
+      "parent": null,
+      "resolve": Function resolve(n),
+      "version": "1.2.3",
+    },
     "version": "1.2.3",
   },
   "invalid": false,
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/dep-valid.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/dep-valid.js
index 901325b2390b9..8c0e761658873 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/dep-valid.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/dep-valid.js
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ const npa = require('npm-package-arg')
 const { normalizePaths } = require('./fixtures/utils.js')
 const { resolve } = require('path')
 
-t.ok(depValid({}, '', null, {}), '* is always ok')
+// dep-valid reads from requestor.edgesOut so we use this instead of {} in these tests
+const emptyRequestor = {
+  edgesOut: new Map(),
+}
+
+t.ok(depValid({}, '', null, emptyRequestor), '* is always ok')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   package: {
@@ -13,7 +18,7 @@ t.ok(depValid({
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, '1.x', null, {}), 'range that is satisfied')
+}, '1.x', null, emptyRequestor), 'range that is satisfied')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   package: {
@@ -22,21 +27,21 @@ t.ok(depValid({
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, '1.x', '2.x', {}), 'range that is acceptable')
+}, '1.x', '2.x', emptyRequestor), 'range that is acceptable')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   isLink: true,
   realpath: '/some/path',
-}, normalizePaths(npa('file:/some/path')), null, {}), 'links must point at intended target')
+}, normalizePaths(npa('file:/some/path')), null, emptyRequestor), 'links must point at intended target')
 
 t.notOk(depValid({
   isLink: true,
   realpath: '/some/other/path',
-}, 'file:/some/path', null, {}), 'links must point at intended target')
+}, 'file:/some/path', null, emptyRequestor), 'links must point at intended target')
 
 t.notOk(depValid({
   realpath: '/some/path',
-}, 'file:/some/path', null, {}), 'file:// must be a link')
+}, 'file:/some/path', null, emptyRequestor), 'file:// must be a link')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   name: 'foo',
@@ -47,7 +52,7 @@ t.ok(depValid({
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, 'git://host/repo#semver:1.x', null, {}), 'git url with semver range')
+}, 'git://host/repo#semver:1.x', null, emptyRequestor), 'git url with semver range')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   name: 'foo',
@@ -58,7 +63,7 @@ t.ok(depValid({
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, 'npm:bar@1.2.3', null, {}), 'alias is ok')
+}, 'npm:bar@1.2.3', null, emptyRequestor), 'alias is ok')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   resolved: 'https://registry/abbrev-1.1.1.tgz',
@@ -66,7 +71,7 @@ t.ok(depValid({
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, 'https://registry/abbrev-1.1.1.tgz', null, {}), 'remote url match')
+}, 'https://registry/abbrev-1.1.1.tgz', null, emptyRequestor), 'remote url match')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   resolved: 'git+ssh://git@github.com/foo/bar',
@@ -74,7 +79,7 @@ t.ok(depValid({
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, 'git+ssh://git@github.com/foo/bar.git', null, {}), 'matching _from saveSpec')
+}, 'git+ssh://git@github.com/foo/bar.git', null, emptyRequestor), 'matching _from saveSpec')
 
 t.notOk(depValid({
   resolved: 'git+ssh://git@github.com/foo/bar',
@@ -82,26 +87,26 @@ t.notOk(depValid({
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, 'git+ssh://git@github.com/bar/foo.git', null, {}), 'different repo')
+}, 'git+ssh://git@github.com/bar/foo.git', null, emptyRequestor), 'different repo')
 
 t.notOk(depValid({
   package: {},
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, 'git+ssh://git@github.com/bar/foo.git', null, {}), 'missing repo')
+}, 'git+ssh://git@github.com/bar/foo.git', null, emptyRequestor), 'missing repo')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   resolved: `file:${resolve('/path/to/tarball.tgz')}`,
-}, resolve('/path/to/tarball.tgz'), null, {}), 'same tarball')
+}, resolve('/path/to/tarball.tgz'), null, emptyRequestor), 'same tarball')
 
 t.notOk(depValid({
   resolved: 'file:/path/to/other/tarball.tgz',
-}, '/path/to/tarball.tgz', null, {}), 'different tarball')
+}, '/path/to/tarball.tgz', null, emptyRequestor), 'different tarball')
 
 t.notOk(depValid({
   isLink: true,
-}, '/path/to/tarball.tgz', null, {}), 'links are not tarballs')
+}, '/path/to/tarball.tgz', null, emptyRequestor), 'links are not tarballs')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   package: {
@@ -112,28 +117,28 @@ t.ok(depValid({
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, './tarball.tgz', null, {}), 'probably the same-ish, hopefully')
+}, './tarball.tgz', null, emptyRequestor), 'probably the same-ish, hopefully')
 
 t.notOk(depValid({
   package: {},
   get version () {
     return this.package.version
   },
-}, './tarball.tgz', null, {}), 'too uncertain, nope')
+}, './tarball.tgz', null, emptyRequestor), 'too uncertain, nope')
 
 t.ok(depValid({
   resolved: 'https://registry.npmjs.org/foo/foo-1.2.3.tgz',
-}, 'latest', null, {}), 'tagged registry version needs remote tarball')
+}, 'latest', null, emptyRequestor), 'tagged registry version needs remote tarball')
 
 t.notOk(depValid({
   resolved: 'git+https://registry.npmjs.org/foo/foo-1.2.3.git',
-}, 'latest', null, {}), 'tagged registry version needs remote tarball, not git')
+}, 'latest', null, emptyRequestor), 'tagged registry version needs remote tarball, not git')
 
-t.notOk(depValid({}, 'latest', null, {}),
+t.notOk(depValid({}, 'latest', null, emptyRequestor),
   'tagged registry version needs remote tarball resolution')
 
 t.test('unsupported dependency type', t => {
-  const requestor = { errors: [] }
+  const requestor = { errors: [], edgesOut: new Map() }
   const child = { name: 'kid' }
   const request = { type: 'not a type' }
   t.notOk(depValid(child, request, null, requestor))
@@ -148,7 +153,7 @@ t.test('unsupported dependency type', t => {
 })
 
 t.test('invalid tag name', t => {
-  const requestor = { errors: [] }
+  const requestor = { errors: [], edgesOut: new Map() }
   const child = { name: 'kid' }
   const request = '!!@#$%!#@$!'
   t.notOk(depValid(child, request, null, requestor))
@@ -163,7 +168,7 @@ t.test('invalid tag name', t => {
 })
 
 t.test('invalid request all together', t => {
-  const requestor = { errors: [] }
+  const requestor = { errors: [], edgesOut: new Map() }
   const child = { name: 'kid' }
   const request = null
   t.notOk(depValid(child, request, null, requestor))
@@ -178,7 +183,7 @@ t.test('invalid request all together', t => {
 })
 
 t.test('installLinks makes Link nodes invalid', t => {
-  const requestor = { errors: [], installLinks: true }
+  const requestor = { errors: [], installLinks: true, edgesOut: new Map() }
   const child = { isLink: true, name: 'kid' }
   const request = { type: 'directory' }
   t.notOk(depValid(child, request, null, requestor))
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/edge.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/edge.js
index 9d1352351741e..f45cb87917702 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/edge.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/edge.js
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ const a = {
   },
   isTop: false,
   parent: top,
+  root: top,
   resolve (n) {
     return n === 'aa' ? aa : this.parent.resolve(n)
   },
@@ -1008,6 +1009,7 @@ t.test('shrinkwrapped and bundled deps are not overridden and remain valid', (t)
       return this.package.version
     },
     parent: root,
+    root,
     resolve (n) {
       return n === 'bar' ? bar : this.parent.resolve(n)
     },
@@ -1036,6 +1038,7 @@ t.test('shrinkwrapped and bundled deps are not overridden and remain valid', (t)
       return this.package.version
     },
     parent: foo,
+    root,
     resolve (n) {
       return this.parent.resolve(n)
     },
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/from-path.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/from-path.js
index 5b5ea2084c498..3bfd0b6398a74 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/from-path.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/from-path.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 const t = require('tap')
 const { normalizePath } = require('./fixtures/utils.js')
 const fp = require('../lib/from-path.js')
-const fromPath = obj => normalizePath(fp(obj))
+const fromPath = (node, edge) => normalizePath(fp(node, edge))
 
 t.equal(fromPath({
   realpath: '/some/path',
@@ -21,3 +21,30 @@ t.equal(fromPath({
   realpath: '/some/path/to/install/target',
   resolved: 'https://registry.com/package.tgz',
 }), '/some/path/to/install/target', 'use dirname if not dir or file type')
+
+t.equal(fromPath({
+  root: {
+    realpath: '/some/root',
+  },
+}, {
+  name: 'foo',
+  overrides: {
+    name: 'foo',
+    value: 'foo@2',
+  },
+}), '/some/root', 'uses root realpath for overridden edges')
+
+t.equal(fromPath({
+  sourceReference: {
+    root: {
+      realpath: '/some/root',
+    },
+  },
+  realpath: '/some/red/herring',
+}, {
+  name: 'foo',
+  overrides: {
+    name: 'foo',
+    value: 'foo@2',
+  },
+}), '/some/root', 'uses sourceReferences root realpath for overridden edges')