diff --git a/projects/fal/src/fal/apps.py b/projects/fal/src/fal/apps.py
index ba1465f5..d33cb3c9 100644
--- a/projects/fal/src/fal/apps.py
+++ b/projects/fal/src/fal/apps.py
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def submit(app_id: str, arguments: dict[str, Any], *, path: str = "") -> Request
     app_id = _backwards_compatible_app_id(app_id)
     url = _QUEUE_URL_FORMAT.format(app_id=app_id)
     if path:
-        url += "/" + path.removeprefix("/")
+        url += path if path.startswith("/") else "/" + path
 
     creds = get_default_credentials()
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ def _connect(app_id: str, *, path: str = "/realtime") -> Iterator[_RealtimeConne
     app_id = _backwards_compatible_app_id(app_id)
     url = _REALTIME_URL_FORMAT.format(app_id=app_id)
     if path:
-        url += "/" + path.removeprefix("/")
+        url += path if path.startswith("/") else "/" + path
 
     creds = get_default_credentials()
 
diff --git a/projects/fal/src/fal/workflows.py b/projects/fal/src/fal/workflows.py
index f193d52a..ba338ec8 100644
--- a/projects/fal/src/fal/workflows.py
+++ b/projects/fal/src/fal/workflows.py
@@ -50,7 +50,13 @@ def parse_leaf(raw_leaf: str) -> Leaf:
             f"Invalid leaf: {raw_leaf} (must start with a reference)"
         )
 
-    leaf: Leaf = ReferenceLeaf(reference.removeprefix(VARIABLE_PREFIX))
+    # remove the $ prefix
+    reference = (
+        reference[len(VARIABLE_PREFIX) :]
+        if reference.startswith(VARIABLE_PREFIX)
+        else reference
+    )
+    leaf: Leaf = ReferenceLeaf(reference)
     for raw_part in raw_parts:
         if raw_part.isdigit():
             leaf = IndexLeaf(leaf, int(raw_part))