diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tool_util/verify/interactor.py b/lib/galaxy/tool_util/verify/interactor.py
index b51e2a33ad5a..08525860a000 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tool_util/verify/interactor.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tool_util/verify/interactor.py
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ def stage_data_async(
             file_name = None
             file_name_exists = False
             location = self._ensure_valid_location_in(test_data)
-            if fname:
+            if fname and force_path_paste:
                 file_name = self.test_data_path(tool_id, fname, tool_version=tool_version)
                 file_name_exists = os.path.exists(f"{file_name}")
             upload_from_location = not file_name_exists and location is not None
@@ -575,7 +575,8 @@ def stage_data_async(
             if upload_from_location:
                 tool_input.update({"files_0|url_paste": location})
             elif force_path_paste:
-                file_name = self.test_data_path(tool_id, fname, tool_version=tool_version)
+                if file_name is None:
+                    file_name = self.test_data_path(tool_id, fname, tool_version=tool_version)
                 tool_input.update({"files_0|url_paste": f"file://{file_name}"})
             else:
                 file_content = self.test_data_download(tool_id, fname, is_output=False, tool_version=tool_version)