diff --git a/system/router.php b/system/router.php
index ddbabeda..51c1e790 100644
--- a/system/router.php
+++ b/system/router.php
@@ -31,39 +31,11 @@ public static function route($method, $uri)
 		$uri = ($uri != '/') ? '/'.$uri : $uri;
 
 		// --------------------------------------------------------------
-		// If a route directory is being used, load the route file
-		// corresponding to the first segment of the URI.
+		// Load the application routes.
 		// --------------------------------------------------------------
-		if (is_dir(APP_PATH.'routes'))
+		if (is_null(static::$routes))
 		{
-			if ($uri == '/')
-			{
-				if ( ! file_exists(APP_PATH.'routes/home'.EXT))
-				{
-					throw new \Exception("A [home] route file is required when using a route directory.");					
-				}
-
-				static::$routes = require APP_PATH.'routes/home'.EXT;
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				$segments = explode('/', trim($uri, '/'));
-
-				if ( ! file_exists(APP_PATH.'routes/'.$segments[0].EXT))
-				{
-					throw new \Exception("No route file defined for routes beginning with [".$segments[0]."]");
-				}
-
-				static::$routes = require APP_PATH.'routes/'.$segments[0].EXT;
-			}
-		}
-		// --------------------------------------------------------------
-		// If no route directory is being used, we can simply load the
-		// routes file from the application directory.
-		// --------------------------------------------------------------
-		else
-		{
-			static::$routes = require APP_PATH.'routes'.EXT;
+			static::$routes = static::routes($uri);
 		}
 
 		// --------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -150,4 +122,49 @@ private static function parameters($uri_segments, $route_segments)
 		return $parameters;		
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Load the routes based on the request URI.
+	 *
+	 * @param  string  $uri
+	 * @return void
+	 */
+	private static function routes($uri)
+	{
+		// --------------------------------------------------------------
+		// If a route directory is being used, load the route file
+		// corresponding to the first segment of the URI.
+		// --------------------------------------------------------------
+		if (is_dir(APP_PATH.'routes'))
+		{
+			if ($uri == '/')
+			{
+				if ( ! file_exists(APP_PATH.'routes/home'.EXT))
+				{
+					throw new \Exception("A [home] route file is required when using a route directory.");					
+				}
+
+				return require APP_PATH.'routes/home'.EXT;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				$segments = explode('/', trim($uri, '/'));
+
+				if ( ! file_exists(APP_PATH.'routes/'.$segments[0].EXT))
+				{
+					throw new \Exception("No route file defined for routes beginning with [".$segments[0]."]");
+				}
+
+				return require APP_PATH.'routes/'.$segments[0].EXT;
+			}
+		}
+		// --------------------------------------------------------------
+		// If no route directory is being used, we can simply load the
+		// routes file from the application directory.
+		// --------------------------------------------------------------
+		else
+		{
+			return require APP_PATH.'routes'.EXT;
+		}
+	}
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file