diff --git a/includes/file.inc b/includes/file.inc
index 7d23d4a7ca9..71ec3c06b33 100644
--- a/includes/file.inc
+++ b/includes/file.inc
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ define('FILE_EXISTS_ERROR', 2);
  */
 function file_create_url($path) {
   // Strip file_directory_path from $path. We only include relative paths in urls.
-  if (strpos($path, file_directory_path()) !== false) {
+  if (strpos($path, file_directory_path() . '/') === 0) {
     $path = trim(substr($path, strlen(file_directory_path())), '\\/');
   }
   switch (variable_get('file_downloads', FILE_DOWNLOADS_PUBLIC)) {