diff --git a/src/lib/glossary.ts b/src/lib/glossary.ts
index 0d64e49..eaf5af4 100644
--- a/src/lib/glossary.ts
+++ b/src/lib/glossary.ts
@@ -512,14 +512,19 @@ export function getGlossarySmartNavigation(
   const rawNavigation = currentEntry.data.navigation;
   const defaultNavigation = GLOSSARY_NAV_DEFAULTS[familyOf(currentEntry)] ?? {};
 
+  const withDefaultPath = (
+    explicit: string[] | undefined,
+    fallback: string[] | undefined,
+  ): string[] => (explicit && explicit.length > 0 ? explicit : fallback ?? []);
+
   const navigationSource = {
     primaryNext: rawNavigation?.primaryNext,
     primaryReason: rawNavigation?.primaryReason,
     paths: {
-      understand: rawNavigation?.paths?.understand ?? defaultNavigation.understand ?? [],
-      deepen: rawNavigation?.paths?.deepen ?? defaultNavigation.deepen ?? [],
-      compare: rawNavigation?.paths?.compare ?? defaultNavigation.compare ?? [],
-      apply: rawNavigation?.paths?.apply ?? defaultNavigation.apply ?? [],
+      understand: withDefaultPath(rawNavigation?.paths?.understand, defaultNavigation.understand),
+      deepen: withDefaultPath(rawNavigation?.paths?.deepen, defaultNavigation.deepen),
+      compare: withDefaultPath(rawNavigation?.paths?.compare, defaultNavigation.compare),
+      apply: withDefaultPath(rawNavigation?.paths?.apply, defaultNavigation.apply),
     },
     flows: rawNavigation?.flows ?? {},
     relationWeights: rawNavigation?.relationWeights ?? {},