diff --git a/docs/MOD_PACKAGES.md b/docs/MOD_PACKAGES.md
index d7e7b857..9fad8eca 100644
--- a/docs/MOD_PACKAGES.md
+++ b/docs/MOD_PACKAGES.md
@@ -873,9 +873,13 @@ A `file`, `directory` or `folder` resource may name a package-relative
 `default` (for example `default = "pack"`): a file or folder the package ships
 beside its manifest. It is used while the player has selected nothing, so a
 required resource with a default resolves out of the box; a selected path
-always wins. The default must be a safe relative path inside the package
-(no absolute paths or `..`) and cannot be combined with verified media
-(`size`/`sha256`), `input_only` or `shared_source`.
+always wins, and clearing the selection restores the default. The default
+must be a safe relative path inside the package (no absolute paths or `..`)
+and cannot be combined with verified media (`size`/`sha256`), `input_only`
+or `shared_source`. At resolve time it counts only when it exists with the
+resource's kind (folder or file) and its real path, symlinks resolved, stays
+inside the package; otherwise the resource is unset (a required one blocks
+launch).
 
 
 Format 8 adds engine-verified donor media to the same picker and state format:
diff --git a/runtime/src/mod_packages.cpp b/runtime/src/mod_packages.cpp
index c7374f1c..35979a73 100644
--- a/runtime/src/mod_packages.cpp
+++ b/runtime/src/mod_packages.cpp
@@ -861,6 +861,26 @@ std::string effective_option_value(const ModPackage& package,
     return option ? option->default_value : std::string();
 }
 
+/* A resource's package-relative default, only when it exists with the
+ * resource's kind (folder or file) and its real path (symlinks resolved)
+ * stays inside the package: the manifest check is text-only, and a symlink
+ * the package ships could point anywhere. {} otherwise (the resource is then
+ * unset, so a required one blocks launch as before). */
+static fs::path package_default_path(const ModPackage& package, const ModResource& resource) {
+    std::error_code ec;
+    const fs::path candidate = package.root / fs::u8path(resource.default_path);
+    const bool folder = resource.format == "directory" || resource.format == "folder";
+    if (folder ? !fs::is_directory(candidate, ec) : !fs::is_regular_file(candidate, ec))
+        return {};
+    const fs::path real = fs::canonical(candidate, ec);
+    if (ec) return {};
+    const fs::path base = fs::canonical(package.root, ec);
+    if (ec) return {};
+    const auto rel = real.lexically_relative(base);
+    if (rel.empty() || rel.is_absolute() || *rel.begin() == "..") return {};
+    return candidate;
+}
+
 fs::path effective_resource_path(const ModPackage& package,
                                  const ModSelection& selection,
                                  const std::string& feature_id,
@@ -876,7 +896,7 @@ fs::path effective_resource_path(const ModPackage& package,
     }
     const ModResource* declared = find_resource(package, feature_id, id);
     if (declared && !declared->default_path.empty() && !package.root.empty())
-        return package.root / fs::u8path(declared->default_path);
+        return package_default_path(package, *declared);
     return {};
 }
 
diff --git a/runtime/tests/test_mod_packages.cpp b/runtime/tests/test_mod_packages.cpp
index c14c462d..06d71860 100644
--- a/runtime/tests/test_mod_packages.cpp
+++ b/runtime/tests/test_mod_packages.cpp
@@ -706,6 +706,46 @@ int main() {
     check(default_resource.feature_resource_path(
               "default-resource.mod", "pack", "pack") == root / "selected/pack",
           "a selected resource path must override the package default");
+    {
+        /* Clearing the selection (state.toml holding an empty path, or no
+         * entry at all) restores the package default. */
+        auto sel = default_resource.selections();
+        sel["default-resource.mod"].features["pack"].resources["pack"] = "";
+        auto kept = default_resource.exchange_selections(sel);
+        check(default_resource.feature_resource_path(
+                  "default-resource.mod", "pack", "pack") == default_pack,
+              "a cleared selection must restore the package default");
+        sel["default-resource.mod"].features["pack"].resources.erase("pack");
+        default_resource.exchange_selections(sel);
+        check(default_resource.feature_resource_path(
+                  "default-resource.mod", "pack", "pack") == default_pack,
+              "a removed selection must restore the package default");
+        default_resource.exchange_selections(kept);
+    }
+    {
+        /* The default must exist, and its real path must stay inside the
+         * package: a shipped symlink pointing outside is not followed. */
+        ModPackageManager probe(root);
+        fs::remove_all(default_pack, ec);
+        check(probe.scan(&error), error.c_str());
+        check(probe.feature_resource_path("default-resource.mod", "pack", "pack").empty(),
+              "a missing default folder must not count as resolved");
+        check(!probe.resolve("SLUS-TEST").ok,
+              "a required resource whose default is missing must block launch");
+        const fs::path outside = root / "outside-pack";
+        fs::create_directories(outside, ec);
+        fs::create_directory_symlink(outside, default_pack, ec);
+        if (!ec) {
+            ModPackageManager linked(root);
+            check(linked.scan(&error), error.c_str());
+            check(linked.feature_resource_path("default-resource.mod", "pack", "pack").empty(),
+                  "a default that is a symlink out of the package must be rejected");
+            check(!linked.resolve("SLUS-TEST").ok,
+                  "a default escaping the package must not resolve");
+            fs::remove(default_pack, ec);
+        }
+        fs::remove_all(outside, ec);
+    }
     fs::remove_all(root / "installed/default-resource.mod", ec);
     {
         const fs::path unsafe_root = root / "unsafe-default";