diff --git a/lib/nconf/stores/file.js b/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
index 87449af..05d33ec 100644
--- a/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
+++ b/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ var fs = require('fs'),
     path = require('path'),
     util = require('util'),
     formats = require('../formats'),
-    Memory = require('./memory').Memory;
+    Memory = require('./memory').Memory,
+    existsSync = fs.existsSync || path.existsSync;
  
 //
 // ### function File (options)
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ File.prototype.load = function (callback) {
 File.prototype.loadSync = function () {
   var data, self = this;
 
-  if (!path.existsSync(self.file)) {
+  if (!existsSync(self.file)) {
     self.store = {};
     data = {};
   }