diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gaul/s3proxy/S3ProxyHandler.java b/src/main/java/org/gaul/s3proxy/S3ProxyHandler.java
index 8e561d5..3262217 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gaul/s3proxy/S3ProxyHandler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gaul/s3proxy/S3ProxyHandler.java
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ final class S3ProxyHandler extends AbstractHandler {
             }
         case "HEAD":
             if (path.length <= 2 || path[2].isEmpty()) {
-                handleContainerExists(response, uri.substring(1));
+                handleContainerExists(response, path[1]);
                 baseRequest.setHandled(true);
                 return;
             } else {