diff --git a/src/rougail/annotator/group.py b/src/rougail/annotator/group.py
index 8c32ca1a..00b1f25e 100644
--- a/src/rougail/annotator/group.py
+++ b/src/rougail/annotator/group.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class GroupAnnotator:
             if group.leader in cache_paths:
                 leader_fam_path = cache_paths[group.leader]
             else:
-                leader_fam_path = self.objectspace.paths.get_variable_family_path(group.leader)
+                leader_fam_path = self.objectspace.paths.get_variable_family_path(group.leader, group.xmlfiles)
                 cache_paths[group.leader] = leader_fam_path
             follower_names = list(group.follower.keys())
             leader = self.objectspace.paths.get_variable(group.leader)
diff --git a/src/rougail/annotator/service.py b/src/rougail/annotator/service.py
index f040743e..809b9a8b 100644
--- a/src/rougail/annotator/service.py
+++ b/src/rougail/annotator/service.py
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ class ServiceAnnotator:
             msg = _(f'ip with ip_type "{variable.type}" must have netmask')
             raise DictConsistencyError(msg, 64, ip.xmlfiles)
         if hasattr(ip, 'netmask'):
-            netmask = self.objectspace.paths.get_variable(ip.netmask)
+            netmask = self.objectspace.paths.get_variable(ip.netmask, ip.xmlfiles)
             if netmask.type != 'netmask':
                 msg = _(f'netmask in ip must have type "netmask", not "{netmask.type}"')
                 raise DictConsistencyError(msg, 65, ip.xmlfiles)
diff --git a/src/rougail/path.py b/src/rougail/path.py
index ba2c43a0..bf5daf3b 100644
--- a/src/rougail/path.py
+++ b/src/rougail/path.py
@@ -187,10 +187,11 @@ class Path:
 
     def get_variable_family_path(self,
                                  name: str,
+                                 xmlfiles: List[str]=False,
                                  ) -> str:  # pylint: disable=C0111
         """Get the full path of a family
         """
-        return self._get_variable(name)['family']
+        return self._get_variable(name, xmlfiles=xmlfiles)['family']
 
     def get_variable_path(self,
                           name: str,