diff --git a/VERSIONS b/VERSIONS
index 3a124345f..d04f4ef01 100644
--- a/VERSIONS
+++ b/VERSIONS
@@ -4,7 +4,15 @@ ChucK VERSIONS log
 
 1.5.4.2
 =======
-(fixed) an issue with --chugin: where local paths aren't resolved correctly
+(updated) --chugin-path:<path> no longer auto-loads chugins found in the 
+    specified paths; instead the specified paths are added to the import 
+    system user paths, and the .chug and .ck files within the specified 
+    paths can be @imported.
+(added) --auto-load-chugin-path:<path> flag -- this behaves as 
+    --chugin-path previously did: chugins in the specified path(s) are 
+    auto-loaded; .ck files can be @imported
+(fixed) --chugin:<name> and --chugin-path:<path> now correctly auto-expand
+    paths
 
 
 1.5.4.1 (November 2024)
@@ -12,11 +20,11 @@ ChucK VERSIONS log
 (patch release)
 - (fixed, linux) a crash when the OTF handles an OTF command (add or replace)
 - (added) support for crawling subdirectories for importing for packages
-     to be managed by the upcoming ChuMP (ChucK Manager of Packages)
+    to be managed by the upcoming ChuMP (ChucK Manager of Packages)
 - (updated) --chugin-probe now prints .ck files in the import search paths
-     NOTE: as of 1.5.4.1 chuck auto-loads ONLY chugins in the system search
-     paths; all other chugins and all chuck files in the import search paths
-     must be @imported in order to be used.
+    NOTE: as of 1.5.4.1 chuck auto-loads ONLY chugins in the system search
+    paths; all other chugins and all chuck files in the import search paths
+    must be @imported in order to be used.
 
 
 1.5.4.0 (November 2024)
diff --git a/src/core/chuck_compile.cpp b/src/core/chuck_compile.cpp
index 30853254e..e9ed171ec 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_compile.cpp
+++ b/src/core/chuck_compile.cpp
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ std::string Chuck_Compiler::resolveFilename( const std::string & filename,
         for( list<string>::iterator it = searchPaths.begin(); it != searchPaths.end(); it++ )
         {
             // construct path; expand path again here in case search path has things like ~
-            absolutePath = expand_filepath(*it+fname);
+            absolutePath = get_full_path(expand_filepath(normalize_directory_name(*it)+fname));
             // try to match
             hasMatch = matchFilename( absolutePath, extension, exts );
             // log
diff --git a/src/core/util_string.cpp b/src/core/util_string.cpp
index 0cbe8cca3..bf3589e21 100644
--- a/src/core/util_string.cpp
+++ b/src/core/util_string.cpp
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ std::string get_full_path( const std::string & fp, t_CKBOOL treatAsDir )
     char * result = realpath(fp.c_str(), buf);
 
     // try with .ck extension
-    if( result == NULL && !extension_matches(fp, ".ck") )
+    if( result == NULL && !treatAsDir && !extension_matches(fp, ".ck") )
         result = realpath((fp + ".ck").c_str(), buf);
 
     if( result == NULL )
diff --git a/src/host/chuck_main.cpp b/src/host/chuck_main.cpp
index 7715c0284..10e9dab94 100644
--- a/src/host/chuck_main.cpp
+++ b/src/host/chuck_main.cpp
@@ -916,17 +916,24 @@ t_CKBOOL go( int argc, const char ** argv )
                     break;
                 }
             }
+            // add to system path(s); chugins in system paths are auto-loaded...
+            // .ck files can be @imported | 1.5.4.2 (ge) added
+            else if( !strncmp(argv[i], "--auto-load-chugin-path:", sizeof("--auto-load-chugin-path:")-1) )
+            {
+                // get the rest
+                dl_search_path_system.push_back( argv[i]+sizeof("--auto-load-chugin-path:")-1 );
+            }
             // (added 1.3.0.0)
             else if( !strncmp(argv[i], "--chugin-path:", sizeof("--chugin-path:")-1) )
             {
                 // get the rest
-                dl_search_path_system.push_back( argv[i]+sizeof("--chugin-path:")-1 );
+                dl_search_path_user.push_back( argv[i]+sizeof("--chugin-path:")-1 );
             }
             // (added 1.3.0.0)
             else if( !strncmp(argv[i], "-G", sizeof("-G")-1) )
             {
                 // get the rest
-                dl_search_path_system.push_back( argv[i]+sizeof("-G")-1 );
+                dl_search_path_user.push_back( argv[i]+sizeof("-G")-1 );
             }
             // (added 1.3.0.0)
             else if( !strncmp(argv[i], "--chugin:", sizeof("--chugin:")-1) )