diff --git a/instruction.go b/instruction.go
index 81f7eca..fc0e1d9 100644
--- a/instruction.go
+++ b/instruction.go
@@ -278,7 +278,9 @@ func ParseYAMLFile(filename, workdir string) ([]LinkInstruction, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Preprocess instructions: expand globs and from references
-	processedInstructions, err := preprocessInstructions(instructions, filename, workdir)
+	// Create a new visited map for this file
+	visited := make(map[string]bool)
+	processedInstructions, err := preprocessInstructions(instructions, filename, workdir, visited)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -302,7 +304,7 @@ func ParseYAMLFile(filename, workdir string) ([]LinkInstruction, error) {
 }
 
 // preprocessInstructions handles glob expansion and from references
-func preprocessInstructions(instructions []LinkInstruction, filename, workdir string) ([]LinkInstruction, error) {
+func preprocessInstructions(instructions []LinkInstruction, filename, workdir string, visited map[string]bool) ([]LinkInstruction, error) {
 	var result []LinkInstruction
 
 	for _, instr := range instructions {
@@ -312,7 +314,7 @@ func preprocessInstructions(instructions []LinkInstruction, filename, workdir st
 
 		if instr.Target == "" {
 			// This is a from reference - load the referenced file
-			fromInstructions, err := loadFromReference(instr.Source, filename, workdir)
+			fromInstructions, err := loadFromReference(instr.Source, filename, workdir, visited)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("error loading from reference %s: %w", instr.Source, err)
 			}
@@ -331,7 +333,7 @@ func preprocessInstructions(instructions []LinkInstruction, filename, workdir st
 }
 
 // loadFromReference loads instructions from a referenced file
-func loadFromReference(fromFile, currentFile, workdir string) ([]LinkInstruction, error) {
+func loadFromReference(fromFile, currentFile, workdir string, visited map[string]bool) ([]LinkInstruction, error) {
 	// Convert relative paths to absolute paths based on the current file's directory
 	fromPath := fromFile
 	if !filepath.IsAbs(fromPath) {
@@ -342,9 +344,9 @@ func loadFromReference(fromFile, currentFile, workdir string) ([]LinkInstruction
 	// Normalize the path
 	fromPath = filepath.Clean(fromPath)
 
-	// Recursively parse the referenced file
+	// Recursively parse the referenced file with cycle detection
 	fromWorkdir := filepath.Dir(fromPath)
-	return ParseYAMLFileRecursive(fromPath, fromWorkdir)
+	return parseYAMLFileRecursive(fromPath, fromWorkdir, visited)
 }
 
 // expandGlobs expands glob patterns in a single instruction
@@ -389,8 +391,41 @@ func parseYAMLFileRecursive(filename, workdir string, visited map[string]bool) (
 	visited[normalizedFilename] = true
 	defer delete(visited, normalizedFilename)
 
-	// Parse the current file using the new preprocessing approach
-	return ParseYAMLFile(filename, workdir)
+	// Parse the current file and preprocess it with cycle detection
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error reading YAML file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Parse as a direct list of instructions
+	var instructions []LinkInstruction
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal(data, &instructions)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error parsing YAML: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Preprocess instructions: expand globs and from references
+	processedInstructions, err := preprocessInstructions(instructions, filename, workdir, visited)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Final processing: normalize paths and set defaults
+	for i := range processedInstructions {
+		link := &processedInstructions[i]
+		link.Tidy()
+		link.Source, _ = ConvertHome(link.Source)
+		link.Target, _ = ConvertHome(link.Target)
+		link.Source = NormalizePath(link.Source, workdir)
+		link.Target = NormalizePath(link.Target, workdir)
+
+		// If Delete is true, Force must also be true
+		if link.Delete {
+			link.Force = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return processedInstructions, nil
 }
 
 func ExpandPattern(source, workdir, target string) (links []LinkInstruction, err error) {