diff --git a/src/Engine.cc b/src/Engine.cc
index 2eed72e..ede1072 100644
--- a/src/Engine.cc
+++ b/src/Engine.cc
@@ -327,7 +327,9 @@ void Engine::registerLibraries()
 
 string Engine::locateResource(const string & shortname)
 {
-    string try_path;
+    string try_path = shortname;
+    if (fileExists(try_path))
+        return try_path;
 
     /* look for the resource relative to the loaded script's directory */
     try_path = m_program_directory + "/" + shortname;