diff --git a/lib/services-loader.js b/lib/services-loader.js
index ef61465..625b4cb 100644
--- a/lib/services-loader.js
+++ b/lib/services-loader.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ module.exports.create = function (conf, deps) {
     var fs = PromiseA.promisifyAll(require('fs'));
 
     // deps : { memstore, sqlstores, clientSqlFactory, systemSqlFactory }
-    
+
     // XXX this is a no-no (file system access in a worker, cannot be statically analyzed)
     // TODO regenerate a static file of all requires on each install
     // TODO read system config db to find which services auto-start
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ module.exports.create = function (conf, deps) {
     return fs.readdirAsync(conf.servicespath).then(function (nodes) {
       var promise = PromiseA.resolve();
       var services = [];
-      
+
       nodes.forEach(function (node) {
+        if (!/^\./.test(node)) {
+          return;
+        }
         promise = promise.then(function () {
           return loadService(node).then(function (srv) {
             if (!srv) {
@@ -90,7 +93,7 @@ module.exports.create = function (conf, deps) {
   function startServices(services) {
     var promise = PromiseA.resolve();
     var servicesMap = {};
-    
+
     services.forEach(function (srv) {
       promise = promise.then(function () {
         return startService(srv).then(function (service) {
@@ -100,7 +103,7 @@ module.exports.create = function (conf, deps) {
           }
           srv.service = service;
           servicesMap[srv.name] = srv;
-        }); 
+        });
       });
     });