diff --git a/lib/middleman/sass.rb b/lib/middleman/sass.rb
index 7a9bf45a..ef46c90b 100755
--- a/lib/middleman/sass.rb
+++ b/lib/middleman/sass.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ module Middleman
           static_version = options.public + request.path_info
           send_file(static_version) if File.exists? static_version
 
-          location_of_sass_file = options.environment == "build" ? options.build_dir : options.public
+          location_of_sass_file = options.environment == "build" ? File.join(Dir.pwd, options.build_dir) : options.public
           
           css_filename = File.join(location_of_sass_file, request.path_info)
           sass(path.to_sym, ::Compass.sass_engine_options.merge({ :css_filename => css_filename }))