diff --git a/lib/database.js b/lib/database.js
index 14e05739..39b3cb38 100644
--- a/lib/database.js
+++ b/lib/database.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function Database(filenameGiven, options) {
 	}
 
 	// Make sure the specified directory exists
-	if (!anonymous && !fs.existsSync(path.dirname(filename))) {
+	if (!filename.startsWith('file://') && !anonymous && !fs.existsSync(path.dirname(filename))) {
 		throw new TypeError('Cannot open database because the directory does not exist');
 	}