diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index ab0a3dd1..077bd4ec 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -65,6 +65,16 @@ Embedded JavaScript templates.
     <% include user/show %>
   <% }) %>
 </ul>
+```
+
+  Starting with "/" will drive you to the absolute path.
+
+```
+<ul>
+  <% users.forEach(function(user){ %>
+    <% include /views/user/show %>
+  <% }) %>
+</ul>
 ```
 
 ## Custom delimiters
diff --git a/ejs.js b/ejs.js
index ab44a80c..146da7cb 100644
--- a/ejs.js
+++ b/ejs.js
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ var parse = exports.parse = function(str, options){
       if (0 == js.trim().indexOf('include')) {
         var name = js.trim().slice(7).trim();
         if (!filename) throw new Error('filename option is required for includes');
-        var path = resolveInclude(name, filename);
+        var path = resolveInclude(name, filename, options.baseDir);
         include = read(path, 'utf8');
         include = exports.parse(include, { filename: path, _with: false, open: open, close: close, compileDebug: compileDebug });
         buf += "' + (function(){" + include + "})() + '";
@@ -311,6 +311,7 @@ var compile = exports.compile = function(str, options){
  *   - `locals`          Local variables object
  *   - `cache`           Compiled functions are cached, requires `filename`
  *   - `filename`        Used by `cache` to key caches
+ *   - `baseDir`         Used by `resolveInclude` to absolute paths
  *   - `scope`           Function execution context
  *   - `debug`           Output generated function body
  *   - `open`            Open tag, defaulting to "<%"
@@ -379,8 +380,10 @@ exports.renderFile = function(path, options, fn){
  * @api private
  */
 
-function resolveInclude(name, filename) {
-  var path = join(dirname(filename), name);
+function resolveInclude(name, filename, baseDir) {
+  name = name.replace(/(\'|\")/ig,"");
+  if (name[0] === '/') var absolute = (baseDir || process.cwd());
+  var path = join((absolute || dirname(filename)), name);
   var ext = extname(name);
   if (!ext) path += '.ejs';
   return path;
diff --git a/lib/ejs.js b/lib/ejs.js
index f36944fb..2901e5f2 100644
--- a/lib/ejs.js
+++ b/lib/ejs.js
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ var parse = exports.parse = function(str, options){
       if (0 == js.trim().indexOf('include')) {
         var name = js.trim().slice(7).trim();
         if (!filename) throw new Error('filename option is required for includes');
-        var path = resolveInclude(name, filename);
+        var path = resolveInclude(name, filename, options.baseDir);
         include = read(path, 'utf8');
         include = exports.parse(include, { filename: path, _with: false, open: open, close: close, compileDebug: compileDebug });
         buf += "' + (function(){" + include + "})() + '";
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ var compile = exports.compile = function(str, options){
  *   - `locals`          Local variables object
  *   - `cache`           Compiled functions are cached, requires `filename`
  *   - `filename`        Used by `cache` to key caches
+ *   - `baseDir`         Used by `resolveInclude` to absolute paths
  *   - `scope`           Function execution context
  *   - `debug`           Output generated function body
  *   - `open`            Open tag, defaulting to "<%"
@@ -327,8 +328,10 @@ exports.renderFile = function(path, options, fn){
  * @api private
  */
 
-function resolveInclude(name, filename) {
-  var path = join(dirname(filename), name);
+function resolveInclude(name, filename, baseDir) {
+  name = name.replace(/(\'|\")/ig,"");
+  if (name[0] === '/') var absolute = (baseDir || process.cwd());
+  var path = join((absolute || dirname(filename)), name);
   var ext = extname(name);
   if (!ext) path += '.ejs';
   return path;
diff --git a/test/ejs.js b/test/ejs.js
index 7df7ace9..f7893762 100644
--- a/test/ejs.js
+++ b/test/ejs.js
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ describe('includes', function(){
       .should.equal(fixture('include.html'));
   })
 
-  it('should work when nested', function(){
+  it('should work when nested or absolute', function(){
     var file = 'test/fixtures/menu.ejs';
     ejs.render(fixture('menu.ejs'), { filename: file, pets: users })
       .should.equal(fixture('menu.html'));
diff --git a/test/fixtures/menu.ejs b/test/fixtures/menu.ejs
index 61fad418..7fbc4c41 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/menu.ejs
+++ b/test/fixtures/menu.ejs
@@ -8,4 +8,8 @@
 
 <% var url = '/baz' -%>
 <% var title = 'Baz' -%>
-<% include includes/menu-item -%>
\ No newline at end of file
+<% include includes/menu-item -%>
+
+<% var url = '/boz' -%>
+<% var title = 'Boz' -%>
+<% include "/test/fixtures/includes/menu-item" -%>
diff --git a/test/fixtures/menu.html b/test/fixtures/menu.html
index 1f9e45fd..68c305ab 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/menu.html
+++ b/test/fixtures/menu.html
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 <li><a href="//foo">Foo</a></li>
 <li><a href="//bar">Bar</a></li>
-<li><a href="//baz">Baz</a></li>
\ No newline at end of file
+<li><a href="//baz">Baz</a></li>
+<li><a href="//boz">Boz</a></li>
\ No newline at end of file