diff --git a/example.conf b/example.conf
index 9e86d0a..935dccc 100644
--- a/example.conf
+++ b/example.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-# TODO commented sections not done yet
-# [gitosis]
+[gitosis]
+repositories = repo
 
 [group quux]
 members = jdoe wsmith @anothergroup
diff --git a/gitosis/access.py b/gitosis/access.py
index 1146c2d..77be0c8 100644
--- a/gitosis/access.py
+++ b/gitosis/access.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import logging
+import os, logging
 from ConfigParser import NoSectionError, NoOptionError
 
 from gitosis import group
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ def haveAccess(config, user, mode, path):
         else:
             repos = repos.split()
 
+        mapping = None
+
         if path in repos:
             log.debug(
                 'Access ok for %(user)r as %(mode)r on %(path)r'
@@ -39,20 +41,45 @@ def haveAccess(config, user, mode, path):
                 mode=mode,
                 path=path,
                 ))
-            return path
-
-        try:
-            mapping = config.get('group %s' % groupname,
-                                 'map %s %s' % (mode, path))
-        except (NoSectionError, NoOptionError):
-            pass
+            mapping = path
         else:
-            log.debug(
-                'Access ok for %(user)r as %(mode)r on %(path)r=%(mapping)r'
-                % dict(
-                user=user,
-                mode=mode,
-                path=path,
-                mapping=mapping,
-                ))
+            try:
+                mapping = config.get('group %s' % groupname,
+                                     'map %s %s' % (mode, path))
+            except (NoSectionError, NoOptionError):
+                pass
+            else:
+                log.debug(
+                    'Access ok for %(user)r as %(mode)r on %(path)r=%(mapping)r'
+                    % dict(
+                    user=user,
+                    mode=mode,
+                    path=path,
+                    mapping=mapping,
+                    ))
+
+        if mapping is not None:
+            prefix = None
+            try:
+                prefix = config.get(
+                    'group %s' % groupname, 'repositories')
+            except (NoSectionError, NoOptionError):
+                try:
+                    prefix = config.get('gitosis', 'repositories')
+                except (NoSectionError, NoOptionError):
+                    pass
+
+            if prefix is not None:
+                log.debug(
+                    'Using prefix %(prefix)r for %(path)r'
+                    % dict(
+                    prefix=prefix,
+                    path=mapping,
+                    ))
+                mapping = os.path.join(prefix, mapping)
+                log.debug(
+                    'New path is %(path)r'
+                    % dict(
+                    path=mapping,
+                    ))
             return mapping
diff --git a/gitosis/test/test_access.py b/gitosis/test/test_access.py
index 00b1fe8..6e41a99 100644
--- a/gitosis/test/test_access.py
+++ b/gitosis/test/test_access.py
@@ -77,3 +77,46 @@ def test_read_yes_map_wouldHaveWritable():
     cfg.set('group fooers', 'map writable foo/bar', 'quux/thud')
     eq(access.haveAccess(config=cfg, user='jdoe', mode='readonly', path='foo/bar'),
        None)
+
+def test_base_global_absolute():
+    cfg = RawConfigParser()
+    cfg.add_section('gitosis')
+    cfg.set('gitosis', 'repositories', '/a/leading/path')
+    cfg.add_section('group fooers')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'members', 'jdoe')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'map writable foo/bar', 'baz/quux/thud')
+    eq(access.haveAccess(
+        config=cfg, user='jdoe', mode='writable', path='foo/bar'),
+       '/a/leading/path/baz/quux/thud')
+
+def test_base_global_relative():
+    cfg = RawConfigParser()
+    cfg.add_section('gitosis')
+    cfg.set('gitosis', 'repositories', 'some/relative/path')
+    cfg.add_section('group fooers')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'members', 'jdoe')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'map writable foo/bar', 'baz/quux/thud')
+    eq(access.haveAccess(
+        config=cfg, user='jdoe', mode='writable', path='foo/bar'),
+       'some/relative/path/baz/quux/thud')
+
+def test_base_global_relative_simple():
+    cfg = RawConfigParser()
+    cfg.add_section('gitosis')
+    cfg.set('gitosis', 'repositories', 'some/relative/path')
+    cfg.add_section('group fooers')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'members', 'jdoe')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'readonly', 'foo xyzzy bar')
+    eq(access.haveAccess(
+        config=cfg, user='jdoe', mode='readonly', path='xyzzy'),
+       'some/relative/path/xyzzy')
+
+def test_base_local():
+    cfg = RawConfigParser()
+    cfg.add_section('group fooers')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'repositories', 'some/relative/path')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'members', 'jdoe')
+    cfg.set('group fooers', 'map writable foo/bar', 'baz/quux/thud')
+    eq(access.haveAccess(
+        config=cfg, user='jdoe', mode='writable', path='foo/bar'),
+       'some/relative/path/baz/quux/thud')