diff --git a/src/scippnexus/field.py b/src/scippnexus/field.py
index b7e60721..183eb5d9 100644
--- a/src/scippnexus/field.py
+++ b/src/scippnexus/field.py
@@ -39,10 +39,14 @@ class DependsOn:
     value: str
 
     def absolute_path(self) -> str | None:
-        if self.value == '.':
+        if self.is_terminal:
             return None
         return posixpath.normpath(posixpath.join(self.parent, self.value))
 
+    @property
+    def is_terminal(self) -> bool:
+        return self.value == '.'
+
 
 def _is_time(obj):
     if (unit := obj.unit) is None:
diff --git a/src/scippnexus/nxtransformations.py b/src/scippnexus/nxtransformations.py
index dde03cc3..39c95f6b 100644
--- a/src/scippnexus/nxtransformations.py
+++ b/src/scippnexus/nxtransformations.py
@@ -310,18 +310,13 @@ def parse_depends_on_chain(
     file = parent.underlying.file
     visited = [depends_on.absolute_path()]
     try:
-        while depends_on.value != '.':
+        while not depends_on.is_terminal:
             transform, base = _locate_depends_on_target(
                 file, depends_on, parent.definitions
             )
             depends_on = DependsOn(parent=base, value=transform.attrs['depends_on'])
             chain.transformations[transform.name] = transform[()]
-            if depends_on.absolute_path() == visited[-1]:
-                depends_on.value = '.'
-                # Transform.from_object does not see the full chain, so it cannot
-                # detect this case.
-                chain.transformations[transform.name].depends_on = depends_on
-            elif depends_on.absolute_path() in visited:
+            if depends_on.absolute_path() in visited:
                 raise ValueError(
                     'Circular depends_on chain detected: '
                     f'{[*visited, depends_on.absolute_path()]}'
diff --git a/tests/nxtransformations_test.py b/tests/nxtransformations_test.py
index b3611d0a..f48ba6d4 100644
--- a/tests/nxtransformations_test.py
+++ b/tests/nxtransformations_test.py
@@ -831,7 +831,7 @@ def test_compute_transformation_warns_if_transformation_missing_vector_attr(
         root[()]
 
 
-def test_compute_positions_terminates_with_depends_on_to_self_absolute(h5root):
+def test_compute_positions_raises_for_depends_on_self_absolute(h5root):
     instrument = snx.create_class(h5root, 'instrument', snx.NXinstrument)
     detector = create_detector(instrument)
     snx.create_field(detector, 'x_pixel_offset', sc.linspace('xx', -1, 1, 2, unit='m'))
@@ -846,7 +846,6 @@ def test_compute_positions_terminates_with_depends_on_to_self_absolute(h5root):
     value = sc.scalar(6.5, unit='mm')
     offset = sc.spatial.translation(value=[1, 2, 3], unit='mm')
     vector = sc.vector(value=[0, 0, 1])
-    t = value * vector
     value1 = snx.create_field(transformations, 't1', value)
     value1.attrs['depends_on'] = 't2'
     value1.attrs['transformation_type'] = 'translation'
@@ -858,31 +857,12 @@ def test_compute_positions_terminates_with_depends_on_to_self_absolute(h5root):
     value2.attrs['transformation_type'] = 'translation'
     value2.attrs['vector'] = vector.value
 
-    t1 = sc.spatial.translations(dims=t.dims, values=t.values, unit=t.unit) * offset
-    t2 = sc.spatial.translations(dims=t.dims, values=t.values, unit=t.unit).to(
-        unit='cm'
-    )
     root = make_group(h5root)
-    loaded = root[()]
-    result = snx.compute_positions(loaded)
-    origin = sc.vector([0, 0, 0], unit='m')
-    assert_identical(
-        result['instrument']['detector_0']['position'],
-        t2.to(unit='m') * t1.to(unit='m') * origin,
-    )
-    assert_identical(
-        result['instrument']['detector_0']['data'].coords['position'],
-        t2.to(unit='m')
-        * t1.to(unit='m')
-        * sc.vectors(
-            dims=['xx', 'yy'],
-            values=[[[-1, -1, 0], [-1, 1, 0]], [[1, -1, 0], [1, 1, 0]]],
-            unit='m',
-        ),
-    )
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Circular depends_on"):
+        _ = root[()]
 
 
-def test_compute_positions_terminates_with_depends_on_to_self_relative(h5root):
+def test_compute_positions_raises_for_depends_on_self_relative(h5root):
     instrument = snx.create_class(h5root, 'instrument', snx.NXinstrument)
     detector = create_detector(instrument)
     snx.create_field(detector, 'x_pixel_offset', sc.linspace('xx', -1, 1, 2, unit='m'))
@@ -897,7 +877,6 @@ def test_compute_positions_terminates_with_depends_on_to_self_relative(h5root):
     value = sc.scalar(6.5, unit='mm')
     offset = sc.spatial.translation(value=[1, 2, 3], unit='mm')
     vector = sc.vector(value=[0, 0, 1])
-    t = value * vector
     value1 = snx.create_field(transformations, 't1', value)
     value1.attrs['depends_on'] = 't2'
     value1.attrs['transformation_type'] = 'translation'
@@ -909,28 +888,9 @@ def test_compute_positions_terminates_with_depends_on_to_self_relative(h5root):
     value2.attrs['transformation_type'] = 'translation'
     value2.attrs['vector'] = vector.value
 
-    t1 = sc.spatial.translations(dims=t.dims, values=t.values, unit=t.unit) * offset
-    t2 = sc.spatial.translations(dims=t.dims, values=t.values, unit=t.unit).to(
-        unit='cm'
-    )
     root = make_group(h5root)
-    loaded = root[()]
-    result = snx.compute_positions(loaded)
-    origin = sc.vector([0, 0, 0], unit='m')
-    assert_identical(
-        result['instrument']['detector_0']['position'],
-        t2.to(unit='m') * t1.to(unit='m') * origin,
-    )
-    assert_identical(
-        result['instrument']['detector_0']['data'].coords['position'],
-        t2.to(unit='m')
-        * t1.to(unit='m')
-        * sc.vectors(
-            dims=['xx', 'yy'],
-            values=[[[-1, -1, 0], [-1, 1, 0]], [[1, -1, 0], [1, 1, 0]]],
-            unit='m',
-        ),
-    )
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Circular depends_on"):
+        _ = root[()]
 
 
 def test_compute_positions_raises_for_depends_on_cycle(h5root):