diff --git a/core/main/network_stack/websocket/websocket.rb b/core/main/network_stack/websocket/websocket.rb
index 792df6a5b..bb42fe773 100644
--- a/core/main/network_stack/websocket/websocket.rb
+++ b/core/main/network_stack/websocket/websocket.rb
@@ -21,25 +21,46 @@ module BeEF
         MOUNTS = BeEF::Core::Server.instance.mounts
 
         def initialize
+          secure = @@config.get('beef.http.websocket.secure')
 
-
-          secure = @@config.get("beef.http.websocket.secure")
-          @root_dir = File.expand_path('../../../../../', __FILE__)
-
+          # @note Start a WSS server socket
           if (secure)
-            ws_secure_options = {:host => "0.0.0.0", :port => @@config.get("beef.http.websocket.secure_port"), :secure => true,
-                     :tls_options => {
-                         :private_key_file => @root_dir+"/"+@@config.get("beef.http.https.key"),
-                         :cert_chain_file => @root_dir+"/"+ @@config.get("beef.http.https.cert")
-                     }
+            cert_key = @@config.get('beef.http.https.key')
+            unless cert_key.start_with? '/'
+              cert_key = File.expand_path cert_key, $root_dir
+            end
+            unless File.exist? cert_key
+              print_error "Error: #{cert_key} does not exist"
+              exit 1
+            end
+
+            cert = @@config.get('beef.http.https.cert')
+            unless cert.start_with? '/'
+              cert = File.expand_path cert, $root_dir
+            end
+            unless File.exist? cert
+              print_error "Error: #{cert} does not exist"
+              exit 1
+            end
+
+            ws_secure_options = {
+              :host => '0.0.0.0',
+              :port => @@config.get('beef.http.websocket.secure_port'),
+              :secure => true,
+              :tls_options => {
+                :cert_chain_file  => cert,
+                :private_key_file => cert_key,
+              }
             }
-            # @note Start a WSS server socket
             start_websocket_server(ws_secure_options, true)
           end
 
           # @note Start a WS server socket
-          ws_options = {:host => "0.0.0.0", :port => @@config.get("beef.http.websocket.port")}
-          start_websocket_server(ws_options,false)
+          ws_options = {
+            :host => '0.0.0.0',
+            :port => @@config.get('beef.http.websocket.port')
+          }
+          start_websocket_server(ws_options, false)
         end
 
         def start_websocket_server(ws_options, secure)
diff --git a/core/main/server.rb b/core/main/server.rb
index 32b9f33bd..654d3f0ae 100644
--- a/core/main/server.rb
+++ b/core/main/server.rb
@@ -114,8 +114,24 @@ module BeEF
           print_more "Upgrade OpenSSL to version 1.0.1g or newer."
         end
 
-        cert_key = File.expand_path @configuration.get('beef.http.https.key'), $root_dir
-        cert = File.expand_path @configuration.get('beef.http.https.cert'), $root_dir
+        cert_key = @configuration.get('beef.http.https.key')
+        unless cert_key.start_with? '/'
+          cert_key = File.expand_path cert_key, $root_dir
+        end
+        unless File.exist? cert_key
+          print_error "Error: #{cert_key} does not exist"
+          exit 1
+        end
+
+        cert = @configuration.get('beef.http.https.cert')
+        unless cert.start_with? '/'
+          cert = File.expand_path cert, $root_dir
+        end
+        unless File.exist? cert
+          print_error "Error: #{cert} does not exist"
+          exit 1
+        end
+
         @http_server.ssl = true
         @http_server.ssl_options = {
           :private_key_file => cert_key,