diff --git a/docling/document_converter.py b/docling/document_converter.py
index b901fab723..35bc966320 100644
--- a/docling/document_converter.py
+++ b/docling/document_converter.py
@@ -196,6 +196,21 @@ class MarkdownFormatOption(FormatOption):
     backend: Type[AbstractDocumentBackend] = MarkdownDocumentBackend
     backend_options: Optional[MarkdownBackendOptions] = None
 
+    def backend_options_for_input(
+        self, source: Path | str | DocumentStream
+    ) -> MarkdownBackendOptions | None:
+        options = self.backend_options
+        if (
+            options is None
+            or options.source_uri is not None
+            or isinstance(source, DocumentStream)
+        ):
+            return options
+
+        return MarkdownBackendOptions.model_validate(
+            {**options.model_dump(), "source_uri": source}
+        )
+
 
 class AsciiDocFormatOption(FormatOption):
     pipeline_cls: Type = SimplePipeline
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_markdown.py b/tests/test_backend_markdown.py
index 745880ef94..63aea67961 100644
--- a/tests/test_backend_markdown.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend_markdown.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     DoclingDocument,
     InputDocument,
 )
-from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter
+from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter, MarkdownFormatOption
 from tests.verify_utils import CONFID_PREC, COORD_PREC
 
 from .test_data_gen_flag import GEN_TEST_DATA
@@ -211,6 +211,37 @@ def test_convert_embedded_base64_image_enforces_size_limit():
     assert pictures[0].image is None
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("as_path", [False, True], ids=["str", "Path"])
+def test_local_relative_image_resolves_from_document_dir(tmp_path: Path, as_path: bool):
+    """A local Markdown source resolves relative images from its own directory."""
+    image_path = tmp_path / "figure.png"
+    Image.new("RGB", (7, 5), color=(0, 255, 0)).save(image_path)
+    md_path = tmp_path / "doc.md"
+    md_path.write_text("# Title\n\n![alt](figure.png)\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    converter = DocumentConverter(
+        allowed_formats=[InputFormat.MD],
+        format_options={
+            InputFormat.MD: MarkdownFormatOption(
+                backend_options=MarkdownBackendOptions(
+                    fetch_images=True, enable_local_fetch=True
+                )
+            )
+        },
+    )
+
+    doc = converter.convert(md_path if as_path else str(md_path)).document
+
+    pictures = [
+        item for item, _ in doc.iterate_items() if isinstance(item, PictureItem)
+    ]
+    assert len(pictures) == 1
+    image = pictures[0].get_image(doc)
+    assert image is not None
+    assert image.size == (7, 5)
+    assert image.getpixel((0, 0)) == (0, 255, 0)
+
+
 def test_code_block_language_detection():
     markdown = (
         "```python\n"