diff --git a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/snmp_device.py b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/snmp_device.py
index 4bfbd9778725df60b52b21767c0495fe66a5f3a9..15ff0ca5e4b2e4c1b3558f217909558d15116e8d 100644
--- a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/snmp_device.py
+++ b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/snmp_device.py
@@ -112,11 +112,12 @@ class SNMP(lofar_device):
         # create the mib_loader
         loader = mib_loader()
 
-        # get the full mib directory adding the given relative path to the absolute path of this
-        if self.SNMP_rel_mib_dir[0] == "/":
-            mib_path = os.path.dirname(__file__) + self.SNMP_rel_mib_dir
-        else:
+        # if the string doesn't start with '/' it is a relative directory and we need to prepend the full path + '/'
+        if self.SNMP_rel_mib_dir[0] != "/":
             mib_path = os.path.dirname(__file__) + "/" + self.SNMP_rel_mib_dir
+        else:
+            # if the string does start with
+            mib_path = self.SNMP_rel_mib_dir
 
         # set the directory with the compiled mib files.
         loader.set_pymib_dir(mib_path)