diff --git a/sourcing/model.py b/sourcing/model.py
index 4297479..edf1aba 100644
--- a/sourcing/model.py
+++ b/sourcing/model.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from flask import url_for
+from flask import url_for, current_app
 from .database import session
 from .parse import parse_link, parse_sourcedoc_facet, parse_span
 from .text import first_non_empty_line
@@ -194,7 +194,11 @@ class Item(TimeStampedModel):
 
     @property
     def external_url(self):
-        return self.view_url('view_item', _external=True)
+        base_url = current_app.config.get('BASE_URL')
+        if base_url:
+            return base_url + self.view_url('view_item')
+        else:
+            return self.view_url('view_item', _external=True)
 
     @property
     def edit_url(self):