diff --git a/scripts/rsi-training/evaluate_adapter.py b/scripts/rsi-training/evaluate_adapter.py
index dc9a2d0..9de217b 100644
--- a/scripts/rsi-training/evaluate_adapter.py
+++ b/scripts/rsi-training/evaluate_adapter.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def extract_adapter_archive(archive_path: pathlib.Path, destination: pathlib.Pat
     observed = set()
     with tarfile.open(fileobj=io.BytesIO(archive_path.read_bytes()), mode="r:") as archive:
         for member in archive.getmembers():
-            if member.isdir() and member.name.rstrip("/") == expected_prefix.rstrip("/"):
+            if member.isdir():
                 continue
             if not member.isfile() or not member.name.startswith(expected_prefix):
                 raise ValueError("adapter archive contains an unsafe path or non-regular file")
diff --git a/scripts/rsi-training/test_adapter_archive.py b/scripts/rsi-training/test_adapter_archive.py
index e00e173..73fe7b3 100644
--- a/scripts/rsi-training/test_adapter_archive.py
+++ b/scripts/rsi-training/test_adapter_archive.py
@@ -41,6 +41,23 @@ def test_extracts_only_the_two_expected_regular_files(self) -> None:
             self.assertEqual((destination / "adapter_config.json").read_bytes(), b"{}")
             self.assertEqual((destination / "adapter_model.safetensors").read_bytes(), b"weights")
 
+    def test_skips_leading_directory_entries(self) -> None:
+        parent = tarfile.TarInfo(".headlesscode-rsi-model-output/")
+        parent.type = tarfile.DIRTYPE
+        nested = tarfile.TarInfo(".headlesscode-rsi-model-output/adapter/")
+        nested.type = tarfile.DIRTYPE
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as root:
+            archive = pathlib.Path(root) / "adapter.tar"
+            archive.write_bytes(tar_bytes([
+                (".headlesscode-rsi-model-output/", b"", parent),
+                (".headlesscode-rsi-model-output/adapter/", b"", nested),
+                (".headlesscode-rsi-model-output/adapter/adapter_config.json", b"{}", None),
+                (".headlesscode-rsi-model-output/adapter/adapter_model.safetensors", b"weights", None),
+            ]))
+            destination = pathlib.Path(root) / "out"
+            MODULE.extract_adapter_archive(archive, destination)
+            self.assertEqual((destination / "adapter_config.json").read_bytes(), b"{}")
+
     def test_rejects_path_escape_symlinks_and_extra_files(self) -> None:
         cases = [
             [("../outside", b"x", None)],