diff --git a/decouple.py b/decouple.py
index 9873fc9..4ece906 100644
--- a/decouple.py
+++ b/decouple.py
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ def _find_file(self, path):
 
         # search the parent
         parent = os.path.dirname(path)
-        if parent and os.path.normcase(parent) != os.path.normcase(os.path.abspath(os.sep)):
+        if parent and os.path.normcase(parent) != os.path.normcase(path):
             return self._find_file(parent)
 
         # reached root without finding any files.