diff --git a/plugins.js b/plugins.js
index 2d682997..721990a0 100644
--- a/plugins.js
+++ b/plugins.js
@@ -43,15 +43,9 @@ module.exports = ( ) => {
         It will load from ${pl.serveFrom + '-dupe'} instead.` )
       pl.serveFrom += '-dupe'
     }
-    //trim extra leading slash from serveFrom if necessary
-    const canonicalUrl = process.env.CANONICAL_URL
-    const lastBaseChar = canonicalUrl.charAt( canonicalUrl.length - 1 )
-    const firstServeFromChar = pl.serveFrom.charAt( 0 )
-    if ( lastBaseChar === '/' && firstServeFromChar === '/' ) {
-      pl.canonicalUrl = process.env.CANONICAL_URL + pl.serveFrom.slice( 1 )
 
-    }
-    else pl.canonicalUrl = process.env.CANONICAL_URL + pl.serveFrom
+    pl.canonicalUrl = new URL( pl.serveFrom, process.env.CANONICAL_URL )
+
   } )
   winston.debug( `Found ${plugins.length} plugin(s): ${plugins.map( p => p.name ).join( ', ' )}` )