diff --git a/lib/directory.js b/lib/directory.js
index 2162d15..9a2a602 100755
--- a/lib/directory.js
+++ b/lib/directory.js
@@ -64,7 +64,12 @@ exports.handler = function (route, options) {
 
         // Append parameter
 
-        const selection = request.params[paramName];
+        const selection = request.params[paramName] || '';
+
+        if (Path.isAbsolute(selection)) {
+            throw Boom.notFound(null, {});
+        }
+
         if (selection &&
             !settings.showHidden &&
             internals.isFileHidden(selection)) {
@@ -93,7 +98,7 @@ exports.handler = function (route, options) {
 
             fileOptions.confine = baseDir;
 
-            let path = selection || '';
+            let path = selection;
             let error;
 
             try {
diff --git a/test/security.js b/test/security.js
index f35f308..a961448 100755
--- a/test/security.js
+++ b/test/security.js
@@ -87,6 +87,32 @@ describe('security', () => {
         expect(res.statusCode).to.equal(404);
     });
 
+    it('blocks absolute paths at top level path', async () => {
+
+        const server = await provisionServer();
+        server.route({ method: 'GET', path: '/{path*}', handler: { directory: { path: './' } } });
+
+        // Confirm success with relative path
+        const resRel = await server.inject('/directory.js');
+        expect(resRel.statusCode).to.equal(200);
+
+        const resAbs = await server.inject(`/${require.resolve('./directory.js')}`);
+        expect(resAbs.statusCode).to.equal(404);
+    });
+
+    it('blocks absolute paths non-top level path', async () => {
+
+        const server = await provisionServer();
+        server.route({ method: 'GET', path: '/directory/{path*}', handler: { directory: { path: './' } } });
+
+        // Confirm success with relative path
+        const resRel = await server.inject('/directory/directory.js');
+        expect(resRel.statusCode).to.equal(200);
+
+        const resAbs = await server.inject(`/directory/${require.resolve('./directory.js')}`);
+        expect(resAbs.statusCode).to.equal(404);
+    });
+
     it('blocks access to files outside of base directory for file handler', async () => {
 
         const server = await provisionServer();