diff --git a/cmis/models/cmis_backend.py b/cmis/models/cmis_backend.py
index 84e26ba..c0fb966 100644
--- a/cmis/models/cmis_backend.py
+++ b/cmis/models/cmis_backend.py
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ def get_folder_by_path(self, path, create_if_not_found=True,
             path = repo.getObject(
                 cmis_parent_objectid).getPaths()[0] + '/' + path
         traversed = []
+        if not path.startswith('/'):
+            path = '/%s' % path
         try:
             return repo.getObjectByPath(path)
         except ObjectNotFoundException: