diff --git a/src/hio/base/filing.py b/src/hio/base/filing.py
index ff80798..fdd423a 100644
--- a/src/hio/base/filing.py
+++ b/src/hio/base/filing.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 import tempfile
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
-
+from .. import hioing
 from . import doing
 from .. import help
 from ..help.helping import ocfn
@@ -234,6 +234,9 @@ def remake(self, *, name="", base="", temp=None, headDirPath=None, perm=None,
             mode (str): file open mode when .filed such as "w+"
             fext (str): File extension when .filed
         """
+        if os.path.isabs(base):
+            raise hioing.FilerError(f"Invalid {base=} not relative path.")
+
         file = None
         temp = True if temp else False
 
@@ -255,6 +258,9 @@ def remake(self, *, name="", base="", temp=None, headDirPath=None, perm=None,
             if not ext:
                 name = f"{name}.{fext}"
 
+        if os.path.isabs(name):
+            raise hioing.FilerError(f"Invalid {name=} not relative path.")
+
         if temp:
             headDirPath = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix=self.TempPrefix,
                                            suffix=self.TempSuffix,
@@ -381,6 +387,8 @@ def exists(self, name="", base="", headDirPath=None, clean=False, filed=False, f
 
 
         """
+        if os.path.isabs(base):
+            raise hioing.FilerError(f"Invalid {base=} not relative path.")
 
         # use class defaults here so can use makePath for other dirs and files
         if headDirPath is None:
@@ -397,6 +405,9 @@ def exists(self, name="", base="", headDirPath=None, clean=False, filed=False, f
             if not ext:
                 name = f"{name}.{fext}"
 
+        if os.path.isabs(name):
+                    raise hioing.FilerError(f"Invalid {name=} not relative path.")
+
         path = os.path.abspath(
             os.path.expanduser(
                 os.path.join(headDirPath,
diff --git a/src/hio/core/wiring.py b/src/hio/core/wiring.py
index 133dc62..af77ff3 100644
--- a/src/hio/core/wiring.py
+++ b/src/hio/core/wiring.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import shutil
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
+from .. import hioing
 from ..base import doing
 
 @contextmanager
@@ -159,6 +160,9 @@ def reopen(self, rxed=None, txed=None, samed=None, filed=None, fmt=None,
         if self.opened:
             self.close(clear=clear)
 
+        if self.prefix and os.path.isabs(self.prefix):
+            raise hioing.FilerError(f"Invalid .prefix={self.prefix} not relative path.")
+
         # check for changes in creation parameters if need to recreate
         if rxed is not None and rxed == self.rxed:
             rxed = None  # don't need to recreate  because of rxed change
@@ -177,6 +181,9 @@ def reopen(self, rxed=None, txed=None, samed=None, filed=None, fmt=None,
         if headDirPath is not None and headDirPath == self.headDirPath:
             headDirPath = None  # don't need to recreate path because of headDirPath change
 
+        if name and os.path.isabs(name):
+            raise hioing.FilerError(f"Invalid {name=} not relative path.")
+
         # always recreates if dirPath is empty or if some creation parameter has changed
         if (not self.dirPath or
             rxed is not None or
diff --git a/src/hio/hioing.py b/src/hio/hioing.py
index db56f0c..1bcb4fd 100644
--- a/src/hio/hioing.py
+++ b/src/hio/hioing.py
@@ -50,6 +50,14 @@ class OglerError(HioError):
         raise OglerError("error message")
     """
 
+class FilerError(HioError):
+    """
+    Error using or configuring Filer
+
+    Usage:
+        raise FilerError("error message")
+    """
+
 
 class Mixin():
     """
diff --git a/tests/base/test_filing.py b/tests/base/test_filing.py
index ed8dc70..ed56a40 100644
--- a/tests/base/test_filing.py
+++ b/tests/base/test_filing.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import pytest
 import os
 
+from hio import hioing
 from hio.base import doing
 from hio.base import filing
 
@@ -299,6 +300,13 @@ def test_filing():
     assert not os.path.exists(filer.path)  # not temp but clear=True
 
 
+    # Test bad file path components
+    with pytest.raises(hioing.FilerError):
+        filer = filing.Filer(name="/test", base="conf", filed=True)
+
+    with pytest.raises(hioing.FilerError):
+        filer = filing.Filer(name="test", base="/conf", filed=True)
+
     """Done Test"""
 
 
@@ -426,4 +434,5 @@ def test_filer_doer():
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     test_filing()
+    test_filer_doer()