diff --git a/dpgen/generator/run.py b/dpgen/generator/run.py
index 0ce513a96..1cdb30ee3 100644
--- a/dpgen/generator/run.py
+++ b/dpgen/generator/run.py
@@ -1881,7 +1881,10 @@ def _make_model_devi_native_gromacs(iter_index, jdata, mdata, conf_systems):
                     # input.json for DP-Gromacs
                     with open(os.path.join(cc, "input.json")) as f:
                         input_json = json.load(f)
-                    input_json["graph_file"] = models[0]
+                    # Tasks run in a remote staging directory, so a local absolute
+                    # training path would not resolve after DPDispatcher transfers
+                    # the model into the model-deviation work directory.
+                    input_json["graph_file"] = task_model_list[0]
                     input_json["lambda"] = ll
                     with open(os.path.join(task_path, "input.json"), "w") as _outfile:
                         json.dump(input_json, _outfile, indent=4)
diff --git a/tests/generator/test_gromacs_engine.py b/tests/generator/test_gromacs_engine.py
index d74d1333d..fbc5aa6d7 100644
--- a/tests/generator/test_gromacs_engine.py
+++ b/tests/generator/test_gromacs_engine.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import importlib
+import json
 import os
 import shutil
 import sys
@@ -94,6 +95,10 @@ def _check_dir(self, wdir, post=True):
                         )
                     )
 
+        with open(os.path.join(wdir, "input.json")) as f:
+            input_json = json.load(f)
+        self.assertEqual(input_json["graph_file"], "../graph.000.pb")
+
     def _copy_outputs(self, path_1, path_2):
         shutil.copy(
             os.path.join(path_1, "deepmd_traj.gro"),