diff --git a/lib/jekyll.rb b/lib/jekyll.rb
index 137d5894..ce94b64b 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll.rb
@@ -141,9 +141,12 @@ module Jekyll
     #
     # Returns the sanitized path.
     def sanitized_path(base_directory, questionable_path)
+      return base_directory if base_directory.eql?(questionable_path)
+
       clean_path = File.expand_path(questionable_path, "/")
-      clean_path.gsub!(/\A\w\:\//, '/')
-      unless clean_path.start_with?(base_directory)
+      clean_path = clean_path.sub(/^\A\w\:\//, '/')
+
+      unless clean_path.start_with?(base_directory.sub(/^\A\w\:\//, '/'))
         File.join(base_directory, clean_path)
       else
         clean_path