diff --git a/mysite/sample_settings.py b/mysite/sample_settings.py
index f3fa283..bc83a52 100644
--- a/mysite/sample_settings.py
+++ b/mysite/sample_settings.py
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@
 
 STATIC_URL = '/static/'
 
-STATICFILES_DIRS = [
-    "",
-]
+SITE_ROOT = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+STATICFILES_DIRS = (
+  os.path.join(SITE_ROOT, 'static/'),
+)
+