diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/load_paths.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/load_paths.rb
index 5a3e3fbe..7daffe4c 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/load_paths.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/load_paths.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ module Middleman
     end
 
     # Recursive method to find a file in parent directories
-    def findup(filename, cwd=Pathname.new(Dir.pwd))
+    def findup(filename, cwd=Dir.pwd)
+      cwd = Pathname(cwd)
       return cwd.to_s if (cwd + filename).exist?
       return false if cwd.root?
       findup(filename, cwd.parent)