diff --git a/mods/sample-nginx.config b/mods/sample-nginx.config
index 0c5443828c..e4ce902515 100644
--- a/mods/sample-nginx.config
+++ b/mods/sample-nginx.config
@@ -84,9 +84,7 @@ server {
 
   # rewrite to front controller as default rule
   location / {
-    if (!-e $request_filename) {
-      rewrite ^(.*)$ /index.php?pagename=$1;
-    }
+    try_file $uri /index.php?pagename=$uri&$args;
   }
 
   # make sure webfinger and other well known services aren't blocked