diff --git a/lib/couchdb.js b/lib/couchdb.js
index 72d61e6..20f26f8 100644
--- a/lib/couchdb.js
+++ b/lib/couchdb.js
@@ -141,7 +141,12 @@ CouchDB.prototype.deleteDB = function (callback) {
 
 CouchDB.prototype.client = function (method, path, data, callback) {
     var pathname = this.instance.pathname;
-    path = (pathname ? pathname + '/' + path : '/' + path);
+    if (pathname && !path) {
+        path = pathname;
+    }
+    else {
+        path = (pathname ? pathname + '/' + path : '/' + path);
+    }
     path = path.replace(/^\/\/+/, '/');
 
     var headers = {