diff --git a/Classes/ViewHelpers/Page/LanguageMenuViewHelper.php b/Classes/ViewHelpers/Page/LanguageMenuViewHelper.php
index 97f09433d..67c07fe44 100644
--- a/Classes/ViewHelpers/Page/LanguageMenuViewHelper.php
+++ b/Classes/ViewHelpers/Page/LanguageMenuViewHelper.php
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ protected function getLanguageFlag(string $iso, string $label): string
             'titleText' => $label
         ];
 
-        if (file_exists($conf['file'])) {
+        if (file_exists(\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\GeneralUtility::getFileAbsFileName($conf['file']))) {
             $contentObjectDefinition = $this->cObj->getContentObject('IMAGE');
             if ($contentObjectDefinition === null) {
                 return '';