diff --git a/khatru/handlers.go b/khatru/handlers.go
index 7be728a..2cade5c 100644
--- a/khatru/handlers.go
+++ b/khatru/handlers.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"errors"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -41,15 +42,30 @@ func (rl *Relay) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		MaxAge:         86400,
 	})
 
-	if r.Header.Get("Upgrade") == "websocket" {
-		rl.HandleWebsocket(w, r)
-	} else if r.Header.Get("Accept") == "application/nostr+json" {
-		corsMiddleware.Handler(http.HandlerFunc(rl.HandleNIP11)).ServeHTTP(w, r)
-	} else if r.Header.Get("Content-Type") == "application/nostr+json+rpc" {
-		corsMiddleware.Handler(http.HandlerFunc(rl.HandleNIP86)).ServeHTTP(w, r)
-	} else {
-		corsMiddleware.Handler(rl.serveMux).ServeHTTP(w, r)
+	relayPathMatches := true
+	if rl.ServiceURL != "" {
+		p, err := url.Parse(rl.ServiceURL)
+		if err == nil {
+			relayPathMatches = strings.TrimSuffix(r.URL.Path, "/") == strings.TrimSuffix(p.Path, "/")
+		}
 	}
+
+	if relayPathMatches {
+		if r.Header.Get("Upgrade") == "websocket" {
+			rl.HandleWebsocket(w, r)
+			return
+		}
+		if r.Header.Get("Accept") == "application/nostr+json" {
+			corsMiddleware.Handler(http.HandlerFunc(rl.HandleNIP11)).ServeHTTP(w, r)
+			return
+		}
+		if r.Header.Get("Content-Type") == "application/nostr+json+rpc" {
+			corsMiddleware.Handler(http.HandlerFunc(rl.HandleNIP86)).ServeHTTP(w, r)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
+	corsMiddleware.Handler(rl.serveMux).ServeHTTP(w, r)
 }
 
 func (rl *Relay) HandleWebsocket(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
diff --git a/khatru/relay.go b/khatru/relay.go
index 229f0b5..9c2b70b 100644
--- a/khatru/relay.go
+++ b/khatru/relay.go
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ type Relay struct {
 	ctx    context.Context
 	cancel context.CancelCauseFunc
 
-	// setting this variable overwrites the hackish workaround we do to try to figure out our own base URL
+	// setting this variable overwrites the hackish workaround we do to try to figure out our own base URL.
+	// it also ensures the relay stuff is served only from that path and not from any path possible.
 	ServiceURL string
 
 	// hooks that will be called at various times