diff --git a/command/read.go b/command/read.go
index 8f94bcba8f..85d23b73e3 100644
--- a/command/read.go
+++ b/command/read.go
@@ -27,7 +27,11 @@ func (c *ReadCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		flags.Usage()
 		return 1
 	}
+
 	path := args[0]
+	if path[0] == '/' {
+		path = path[1:]
+	}
 
 	client, err := c.Client()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -98,7 +102,7 @@ Read Options:
   -format=table           The format for output. By default it is a whitespace-
                           delimited table. This can also be json.
 
-  -field=field            If included, the raw value of the specified field 
+  -field=field            If included, the raw value of the specified field
   						  will be output raw to stdout.
 
 `