diff --git a/lib/plugins/static.js b/lib/plugins/static.js
index ef555632a..87b50cd29 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/static.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/static.js
@@ -89,9 +89,6 @@ function serveStatic(options) {
     assert.optionalString(opts.file, 'options.file');
     assert.bool(opts.appendRequestPath, 'options.appendRequestPath');
 
-    var p = path.normalize(opts.directory).replace(/\\/g, '/');
-    var re = new RegExp('^' + escapeRE(p) + '/?.*');
-
     function serveFileFromStats(file, err, stats, isGzip, req, res, next) {
         if (typeof req.closed === 'function' && req.closed()) {
             next(false);
@@ -186,6 +183,9 @@ function serveStatic(options) {
             }
         }
 
+        var p = path.normalize(file).replace(/\\/g, '/');
+        var re = new RegExp('^' + escapeRE(p) + '/?.*');
+
         if (req.method !== 'GET' && req.method !== 'HEAD') {
             next(new MethodNotAllowedError('%s', req.method));
             return;