diff --git a/engine/server/sv_init.c b/engine/server/sv_init.c
index d4eebd62..781d5793 100644
--- a/engine/server/sv_init.c
+++ b/engine/server/sv_init.c
@@ -1041,8 +1041,9 @@ qboolean SV_SpawnServer( const char *mapname, const char *startspot, qboolean ba
 	// force normal player collisions for single player
 	if( svs.maxclients == 1 ) Cvar_SetValue( "sv_clienttrace", 1 );
 
-	// make sure what server name doesn't contain path and extension
-	COM_FileBase( mapname, sv.name, sizeof( sv.name ));
+	// allow loading maps from subdirectories, strip extension anyway
+	Q_strncpy( sv.name, mapname, sizeof( sv.name ));
+	COM_StripExtension( sv.name );
 
 	// precache and static commands can be issued during map initialization
 	Host_SetServerState( ss_loading );