diff --git a/src/Ddeboer/Imap/Server.php b/src/Ddeboer/Imap/Server.php
index 9642b0bc..ba680c86 100644
--- a/src/Ddeboer/Imap/Server.php
+++ b/src/Ddeboer/Imap/Server.php
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public function __construct($hostname, $port = 993, $flags = '/imap/ssl/validate
     {
         $this->hostname = $hostname;
         $this->port = $port;
-        $this->flags = $flags;
+        $this->flags = '/'.ltrim($flags, '/');
     }
 
     /**