diff --git a/src/tab.rs b/src/tab.rs
index c744608..ffde2ac 100644
--- a/src/tab.rs
+++ b/src/tab.rs
@@ -630,6 +630,17 @@ fn get_desktop_file_icon(path: &Path) -> Option<String> {
         .map(str::to_string)
 }
 
+/// Creates an icon handle from a desktop file's Icon field value.
+/// Supports both icon names (looked up in theme) and absolute paths (used directly).
+fn desktop_icon_handle(icon: &str, size: u16) -> widget::icon::Handle {
+    let icon_path = Path::new(icon);
+    if icon_path.is_absolute() && icon_path.exists() {
+        widget::icon::from_path(icon_path.to_path_buf())
+    } else {
+        widget::icon::from_name(icon).size(size).handle()
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn parse_desktop_file(path: &Path) -> (Option<String>, Option<String>) {
     let entry = match freedesktop_entry_parser::parse_entry(path) {
         Ok(ok) => ok,
@@ -693,15 +704,9 @@ pub fn item_from_gvfs_info(path: PathBuf, file_info: gio::FileInfo, sizes: IconS
         if let Some(icon_name) = icon_name_opt {
             (
                 mime,
-                widget::icon::from_name(&*icon_name)
-                    .size(sizes.grid())
-                    .handle(),
-                widget::icon::from_name(&*icon_name)
-                    .size(sizes.list())
-                    .handle(),
-                widget::icon::from_name(&*icon_name)
-                    .size(sizes.list_condensed())
-                    .handle(),
+                desktop_icon_handle(&icon_name, sizes.grid()),
+                desktop_icon_handle(&icon_name, sizes.list()),
+                desktop_icon_handle(&icon_name, sizes.list_condensed()),
             )
         } else {
             (
@@ -828,15 +833,9 @@ pub fn item_from_entry(
             if let Some(icon_name) = icon_name_opt {
                 (
                     mime,
-                    widget::icon::from_name(&*icon_name)
-                        .size(sizes.grid())
-                        .handle(),
-                    widget::icon::from_name(&*icon_name)
-                        .size(sizes.list())
-                        .handle(),
-                    widget::icon::from_name(icon_name)
-                        .size(sizes.list_condensed())
-                        .handle(),
+                    desktop_icon_handle(&icon_name, sizes.grid()),
+                    desktop_icon_handle(&icon_name, sizes.list()),
+                    desktop_icon_handle(&icon_name, sizes.list_condensed()),
                 )
             } else {
                 (