diff --git a/lib/nconf/stores/file.js b/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
index 5620ee1..ae0ffe1 100644
--- a/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
+++ b/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ var fs = require('fs'),
     util = require('util'),
     formats = require('../formats'),
     Memory = require('./memory').Memory,
+    exists = fs.exists || path.exists,
     existsSync = fs.existsSync || path.existsSync;
 
 //
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ File.prototype.saveSync = function (value) {
 File.prototype.load = function (callback) {
   var self = this;
 
-  path.exists(self.file, function (exists) {
+  exists(self.file, function (exists) {
     if (!exists) {
       return callback(null, {});
     }