diff --git a/diagrams/__init__.py b/diagrams/__init__.py
index 062ecae2..b91d1c49 100644
--- a/diagrams/__init__.py
+++ b/diagrams/__init__.py
@@ -479,8 +479,12 @@ class Node:
         return uuid.uuid4().hex
 
     def _load_icon(self):
-        basedir = Path(os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
-        return os.path.join(basedir.parent, self._icon_dir, self._icon)
+        if self._icon_dir is None or not self._icon_dir.startswith(os.path.sep):
+            basedir = Path(os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
+            return os.path.join(basedir.parent, self._icon_dir, self._icon)
+        else:
+            return os.path.join(self._icon_dir, self._icon)
+
 
 
 class Edge: