diff --git a/src/main/java/net/rcarz/jiraclient/RestClient.java b/src/main/java/net/rcarz/jiraclient/RestClient.java
index e0ccceab..8918ed88 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/rcarz/jiraclient/RestClient.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/rcarz/jiraclient/RestClient.java
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ public URI buildURI(String path) throws URISyntaxException {
      */
     public URI buildURI(String path, Map<String, String> params) throws URISyntaxException {
         URIBuilder ub = new URIBuilder(uri);
-        ub.setPath(ub.getPath() + path);
+        ub.setPath(ub.getPath() != null ? ub.getPath() + path : path);
 
         if (params != null) {
             for (Map.Entry<String, String> ent : params.entrySet())