diff --git a/encfs/DirNode.cpp b/encfs/DirNode.cpp
index 91a6580..18429f1 100644
--- a/encfs/DirNode.cpp
+++ b/encfs/DirNode.cpp
@@ -742,14 +742,6 @@ shared_ptr<FileNode> DirNode::renameNode( const char *from, const char *to,
     return node;
 }
 
-shared_ptr<FileNode> DirNode::directLookup( const char *path )
-{
-    return shared_ptr<FileNode>( 
-            new FileNode( this, 
-                fsConfig,
-                "unknown", path ));
-}
-
 shared_ptr<FileNode> DirNode::findOrCreate( const char *plainName)
 {
     shared_ptr<FileNode> node;
diff --git a/encfs/DirNode.h b/encfs/DirNode.h
index 2f413f8..f075a8a 100644
--- a/encfs/DirNode.h
+++ b/encfs/DirNode.h
@@ -108,10 +108,6 @@ public:
     shared_ptr<FileNode> openNode( const char *plaintextName, 
 	    const char *requestor, int flags, int *openResult );
 
-    /* For internal use - open a cipher file directly
-    */
-    shared_ptr<FileNode> directLookup( const char *realPath );
-
     std::string cipherPath( const char *plaintextPath );
     std::string cipherPathWithoutRoot( const char *plaintextPath );
     std::string plainPath( const char *cipherPath );
diff --git a/encfs/encfsctl.cpp b/encfs/encfsctl.cpp
index a75aa94..369c37a 100644
--- a/encfs/encfsctl.cpp
+++ b/encfs/encfsctl.cpp
@@ -411,8 +411,9 @@ int processContents( const shared_ptr<EncFS_Root> &rootInfo,
 
     if(!node)
     {
-        // try opening directly, so a cipher-path can be passed in
-        node = rootInfo->root->directLookup( path );
+        // try treating filename as an enciphered path
+        string plainName = rootInfo->root->plainPath( path );
+        node = rootInfo->root->lookupNode( plainName.c_str(), "encfsctl" );
         if(node)
         {
             errCode = node->open( O_RDONLY );