diff --git a/dargs/dargs.py b/dargs/dargs.py
index fa06bf1..6a880e8 100644
--- a/dargs/dargs.py
+++ b/dargs/dargs.py
@@ -536,12 +536,13 @@ def check_value(
             A deep copy of ``value`` is made internally so the caller's
             data is not mutated.
         """
+        ref_base_dir = None
         if allow_ref:
             value = deepcopy(value)
             # Resolve a root reference before validating its type or running
             # its extra check; traversal only resolves descendants.
             if isinstance(value, dict):
-                _resolve_ref(value, allow_ref)
+                ref_base_dir = _resolve_ref(value, allow_ref)
         # ``traverse_value`` only checks descendants, so validate the root value
         # explicitly before descending into any sub-fields or variants.
         self._check_data(value, [])
@@ -551,6 +552,7 @@ def check_value(
             value_hook=Argument._check_data,
             sub_hook=Argument._check_strict if strict else _DUMMYHOOK,
             allow_ref=allow_ref,
+            _ref_base_dir=ref_base_dir,
         )
 
     def _check_exist(self, argdict: dict, path: list[str] | None = None) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_ref.py b/tests/test_ref.py
index 45cc319..c5a4db3 100644
--- a/tests/test_ref.py
+++ b/tests/test_ref.py
@@ -147,6 +147,37 @@ def test_ref_check_value(self) -> None:
         )
         ca.check_value({"$ref": ref_path}, allow_ref=True)
 
+    def test_ref_check_value_nested_relative_ref_uses_containing_file(self) -> None:
+        """Nested refs from a root ref resolve beside the declaring file."""
+        source_dir = os.path.join(self._tmpdir, "source")
+        cwd_dir = os.path.join(self._tmpdir, "cwd")
+        os.mkdir(source_dir)
+        os.mkdir(cwd_dir)
+
+        inner_path = os.path.join(source_dir, "inner.json")
+        outer_path = os.path.join(source_dir, "outer.json")
+        with open(inner_path, "w") as f:
+            json.dump({"value": 11}, f)
+        with open(outer_path, "w") as f:
+            json.dump({"nested": {"$ref": "inner.json"}}, f)
+
+        # A different file in the working directory makes accidental CWD-based
+        # resolution fail type validation instead of hiding the regression.
+        with open(os.path.join(cwd_dir, "inner.json"), "w") as f:
+            json.dump({"value": "wrong"}, f)
+
+        ca = Argument(
+            "base",
+            dict,
+            [Argument("nested", dict, [Argument("value", int)])],
+        )
+        original_cwd = os.getcwd()
+        try:
+            os.chdir(cwd_dir)
+            ca.check_value({"$ref": outer_path}, allow_ref=True)
+        finally:
+            os.chdir(original_cwd)
+
     def test_ref_check_value_root_extra_check(self) -> None:
         """Root extra checks run against the contents loaded from ``$ref``."""
         ref_path = self._write_json("ref_root_extra.json", {"sub1": 5})