diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/server.js b/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/server.js
index 465ba7cfc658..29bd1cbbb987 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/server.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/server.js
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ function execute(port, host) {
       fs.existsSync((userFile = englishFile))
     ) {
       // copy into docusaurus so require paths work
-      const userFileParts = userFile.split(`pages${sep}`);
+      const userFileParts = userFile.split(join(CWD, `pages${sep}`));
       let tempFile = join(__dirname, '..', 'pages', userFileParts[1]);
       tempFile = tempFile.replace(
         path.basename(file),