diff --git a/roles/app/README.md b/roles/app/README.md
index bc1ddda..371dba6 100644
--- a/roles/app/README.md
+++ b/roles/app/README.md
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ The `templates/` directory of the calling shim role is discovered automatically
 
 | Variable | Default | Description |
 |----------|---------|-------------|
-| `app_compose_template` | `{{ app_templates_path }}/compose.yml.j2` | Template file path |
+| `app_compose_template` | `compose.yml.j2` | Template file path — relative names resolve via Ansible's role templates search path (finds the calling shim role's `templates/`); absolute paths also accepted |
 | `app_compose_file` | - | Static compose file path |
 | `app_compose_content` | - | Inline compose content |
 | `app_compose_validate` | `true` | Validate compose syntax |
diff --git a/roles/app/defaults/main.yml b/roles/app/defaults/main.yml
index 6a49c69..3e10242 100644
--- a/roles/app/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/app/defaults/main.yml
@@ -30,11 +30,10 @@ app_health_check_retries: 30
 app_health_check_delay: 10
 app_health_check_status_codes: [200, 201, 202]
 
-# Templates path derives from the caller (shim) role's directory, so shim
-# roles in any collection layout Just Work. ansible_parent_role_paths[0] is
-# the absolute path of the role that pulled this one in as a dep.
-app_templates_path: "{{ ansible_parent_role_paths[0] }}/templates"
-app_compose_template: "{{ app_templates_path }}/compose.yml.j2"
+# Relative src — Ansible's template resolver searches loaded roles' templates/
+# directories, so this finds the calling (shim) role's compose.yml.j2 without
+# any absolute-path plumbing.
+app_compose_template: compose.yml.j2
 
 app_subdirectories: []
 # - config
diff --git a/roles/app/tasks/setup.yml b/roles/app/tasks/setup.yml
index c697f95..7c0bea0 100644
--- a/roles/app/tasks/setup.yml
+++ b/roles/app/tasks/setup.yml
@@ -48,21 +48,6 @@
           - not (app_dir is match('.*\.\..*'))
         fail_msg: "Security validation failed for {{ app_name }}: app_dir '{{ app_dir }}' contains invalid characters or path traversal sequences"
 
-    - name: Check if compose template exists
-      ansible.builtin.stat:
-        path: "{{ app_compose_template }}"
-      register: _compose_template_stat
-      delegate_to: localhost
-      become: false
-      when: app_compose_template is defined and app_compose_template | length > 0
-
-    - name: Assert compose template exists
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - _compose_template_stat.stat.exists
-        fail_msg: "Template file not found for {{ app_name }}: '{{ app_compose_template }}' does not exist"
-      when: app_compose_template is defined and app_compose_template | length > 0
-
     - name: Check if compose file exists
       ansible.builtin.stat:
         path: "{{ app_compose_file }}"