diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/import/relative.md b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/import/relative.md
index f21c470646..c82d8db7a2 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/import/relative.md
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/import/relative.md
@@ -219,7 +219,11 @@ import package
 reveal_type(package.foo.X)  # revealed: Unknown
 ```
 
-## In the src-root
+## Relative imports at the top of a search path
+
+Relative imports at the top of a search path result in a runtime error:
+`ImportError: attempted relative import with no known parent package`. That's why Red Knot should
+disallow them.
 
 `parser.py`:
 
@@ -230,21 +234,5 @@ X: int = 42
 `__main__.py`:
 
 ```py
-from .parser import X
-
-reveal_type(X)  # revealed: int
-```
-
-## Beyond the src-root
-
-`parser.py`:
-
-```py
-X: int = 42
-```
-
-`__main__.py`:
-
-```py
-from ..parser import X  # error: [unresolved-import]
+from .parser import X  # error: [unresolved-import]
 ```
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
index 8768c056c5..7de554f538 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
@@ -2512,30 +2512,19 @@ impl<'db> TypeInferenceBuilder<'db> {
         let module = file_to_module(self.db(), self.file())
             .ok_or(ModuleNameResolutionError::UnknownCurrentModule)?;
         let mut level = level.get();
+
         if module.kind().is_package() {
             level = level.saturating_sub(1);
         }
 
-        let mut module_name = module.name().clone();
-        let tail = tail
-            .map(|tail| ModuleName::new(tail).ok_or(ModuleNameResolutionError::InvalidSyntax))
-            .transpose()?;
-
-        for remaining_dots in (0..level).rev() {
-            if let Some(parent) = module_name.parent() {
-                module_name = parent;
-            } else if remaining_dots == 0 {
-                // If we reached a search path root and this was the last dot return the tail if any.
-                // If there's no tail, then we have a relative import that's too deep.
-                return tail.ok_or(ModuleNameResolutionError::TooManyDots);
-            } else {
-                // We're at a search path root. This is a too deep relative import if there's more than
-                // one dot remaining.
-                return Err(ModuleNameResolutionError::TooManyDots);
-            }
-        }
+        let mut module_name = module
+            .name()
+            .ancestors()
+            .nth(level as usize)
+            .ok_or(ModuleNameResolutionError::TooManyDots)?;
 
         if let Some(tail) = tail {
+            let tail = ModuleName::new(tail).ok_or(ModuleNameResolutionError::InvalidSyntax)?;
             module_name.extend(&tail);
         }