diff --git a/lib/i18n/tasks/scanners/ruby_ast_scanner.rb b/lib/i18n/tasks/scanners/ruby_ast_scanner.rb
index a1ee0ff6..4c8f21c2 100644
--- a/lib/i18n/tasks/scanners/ruby_ast_scanner.rb
+++ b/lib/i18n/tasks/scanners/ruby_ast_scanner.rb
@@ -88,8 +88,13 @@ def send_node_to_key_occurrence(send_node, method_name, location: send_node.loc)
                           extract_string(default_arg_node.children[1])
                         end
         end
-        [absolute_key(key, location.expression.source_buffer.name, method_name),
-         range_to_occurrence(location.expression, default_arg: default_arg)]
+        full_key = if send_node.children[0].nil?
+                     # Relative keys only work if called via `t()` but not `I18n.t()`:
+                     absolute_key(key, location.expression.source_buffer.name, method_name)
+                   else
+                     key
+                   end
+        [full_key, range_to_occurrence(location.expression, default_arg: default_arg)]
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/app/controllers/events_controller.rb b/spec/fixtures/app/controllers/events_controller.rb
index 12c6ff7a..c6e28fcb 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/app/controllers/events_controller.rb
+++ b/spec/fixtures/app/controllers/events_controller.rb
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ def show()
 
     # default arg
     I18n.t('default_arg', default: 'Default Text')
+
+    # only `t()` calls can use relative keys and not `I18n.t()` calls.
+    I18n.t('.not_relative')
   end
 
   def update
diff --git a/spec/i18n_tasks_spec.rb b/spec/i18n_tasks_spec.rb
index 75fae50b..f1612712 100644
--- a/spec/i18n_tasks_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/i18n_tasks_spec.rb
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
         index.my_custom_scanner.title
         magic_comment
         default_arg
+        .not_relative
       )
     }
     let (:expected_missing_keys_diff) {