diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ee8c5fd..88a8867 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ Install assets are currently expected to already exist locally, usually under:
 ## Beat Saber Data Backups
 
 `backup-userdata` copies the mounted Windows `UserData` folder and Beat Saber
-Windows app data into this repo. With the Windows mount at `~/Windows`, the
-helper infers Beat Saber's Windows app data as:
+Windows app data into the adjacent `../backups` repo. With the Windows mount at
+`~/Windows`, the helper infers Beat Saber's Windows app data as:
 
 ```text
 /home/pleb/Windows/Users/pleb/AppData/LocalLow/Hyperbolic Magnetism/Beat Saber
@@ -60,12 +60,13 @@ PYTHONPATH=src python -m plugin_helper \
   --instance 1.44.1
 ```
 
-By default the repo receives plain copied files under `backups/beat-saber/UserData`
-and `backups/beat-saber/AppData`, plus `backups/beat-saber/backup-descriptor.json`
-describing the source paths from the latest backup run. Use
+By default the backup repo receives plain copied files under
+`../backups/beat-saber/UserData` and `../backups/beat-saber/AppData`, plus
+`../backups/beat-saber/backup-descriptor.json` describing the source paths from
+the latest backup run. Use
 `--appdata-path <path>` if the Windows profile path ever differs, `--no-appdata`
 for a `UserData`-only sync, or `--backup-root <path>` to choose a different
-repo-local destination.
+destination.
 
 The backup intentionally omits bulky/generated data:
 
diff --git a/src/plugin_helper/cli.py b/src/plugin_helper/cli.py
index 944752e..9caaa1a 100644
--- a/src/plugin_helper/cli.py
+++ b/src/plugin_helper/cli.py
@@ -238,11 +238,11 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
 
     backup = subcommands.add_parser(
         "backup-userdata",
-        help="Copy UserData and Windows AppData into this repo",
+        help="Copy UserData and Windows AppData into the adjacent backups repo",
         parents=[_common_parent()],
     )
     backup.add_argument("--instance", required=True)
-    backup.add_argument("--backup-root", default="backups/beat-saber", help="Repo-local backup directory")
+    backup.add_argument("--backup-root", default="../backups/beat-saber", help="Backup directory")
     backup.add_argument("--appdata-path", help="Override Beat Saber Windows AppData path")
     backup.add_argument("--no-appdata", action="store_true", help="Only copy UserData")
 
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ def run(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
             root = repo_root()
             backup_root = Path(args.backup_root).expanduser()
             if not backup_root.is_absolute():
-                backup_root = root / backup_root
+                backup_root = (root / backup_root).resolve()
             result = sync_windows_data_repo(
                 instance=args.instance,
                 instance_path=instance.path,