diff --git a/Torch.Server/Managers/InstanceManager.cs b/Torch.Server/Managers/InstanceManager.cs
index d6141c6..a4e4a9e 100644
--- a/Torch.Server/Managers/InstanceManager.cs
+++ b/Torch.Server/Managers/InstanceManager.cs
@@ -128,7 +128,15 @@ namespace Torch.Server.Managers
                 return;
             }
 
-            SelectWorld(DedicatedConfig.LoadWorld ?? DedicatedConfig.Worlds.First().WorldPath, false);
+            var worldPath = DedicatedConfig.LoadWorld;
+
+            if (worldPath == null)
+                worldPath = DedicatedConfig.Worlds.First().WorldPath;
+            else
+                // make sure we won't end up with a file path when we expect it to be a directory
+                worldPath = Path.EndsInDirectorySeparator(worldPath) ? worldPath : Path.GetDirectoryName(worldPath);
+
+            SelectWorld(worldPath, false);
 
             _instanceLoaded?.Invoke(DedicatedConfig);
         }