diff --git a/Code/Framework/AzToolsFramework/AzToolsFramework/Prefab/PrefabSystemComponent.cpp b/Code/Framework/AzToolsFramework/AzToolsFramework/Prefab/PrefabSystemComponent.cpp
index 40c8b3bc6a..e838497548 100644
--- a/Code/Framework/AzToolsFramework/AzToolsFramework/Prefab/PrefabSystemComponent.cpp
+++ b/Code/Framework/AzToolsFramework/AzToolsFramework/Prefab/PrefabSystemComponent.cpp
@@ -720,6 +720,8 @@ namespace AzToolsFramework
 
         TemplateId PrefabSystemComponent::GetTemplateIdFromFilePath(AZ::IO::PathView filePath) const
         {
+            AZ_Assert(!filePath.IsAbsolute(), "Prefab - GetTemplateIdFromFilePath was passed an absolute path. Prefabs use paths relative to the project folder.");
+
             auto found = m_templateFilePathToIdMap.find(filePath);
             if (found != m_templateFilePathToIdMap.end())
             {