diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6de9440..0ddb553 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -225,6 +225,10 @@ let g:mkdp_page_title = '「${name}」'
 " use a custom location for images
 let g:mkdp_images_path = /home/user/.markdown_images
 
+" resolve absolute image paths against the custom location for images,
+" instead of the root of the system (default to 0)
+let g:mkdp_images_path_as_root = 1
+
 " recognized filetypes
 " these filetypes will have MarkdownPreview... commands
 let g:mkdp_filetypes = ['markdown']
diff --git a/app/routes.js b/app/routes.js
index 63d3a9a..f099aca 100644
--- a/app/routes.js
+++ b/app/routes.js
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ use(async (req, res, next) => {
 
       let imgPath = decodeURIComponent(decodeURIComponent(req.asPath.replace(reg, '')))
       imgPath = imgPath.replace(/\\ /g, ' ')
-      if (imgPath[0] !== '/' && imgPath[0] !== '\\') {
+      if (req.custImgPathAsRoot || imgPath[0] !== '/' && imgPath[0] !== '\\') {
         imgPath = path.join(fileDir, imgPath)
       } else if (!fs.existsSync(imgPath)) {
         let tmpDirPath = fileDir
diff --git a/app/server.js b/app/server.js
index 979cb2f..d7be261 100644
--- a/app/server.js
+++ b/app/server.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ exports.run = function () {
     req.mkcss = await plugin.nvim.getVar('mkdp_markdown_css')
     req.hicss = await plugin.nvim.getVar('mkdp_highlight_css')
     req.custImgPath = await plugin.nvim.getVar('mkdp_images_path')
+    req.custImgPathAsRoot = await plugin.nvim.getVar('mkdp_images_path_as_root')
     // routes
     routes(req, res)
   })
diff --git a/plugin/mkdp.vim b/plugin/mkdp.vim
index 9b28307..a4a043d 100644
--- a/plugin/mkdp.vim
+++ b/plugin/mkdp.vim
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ if !exists('g:mkdp_images_path')
   let g:mkdp_images_path = ''
 endif
 
+" if 1, absolute image paths are resolved against the images custom
+" path instead of the system root
+if !exists('g:mkdp_images_path_as_root')
+  let g:mkdp_images_path_as_root = 0
+endif
+
 " combine preview window
 if !exists('g:mkdp_combine_preview')
   let g:mkdp_combine_preview = 0