diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/boards/services/board_service.js b/app/assets/javascripts/boards/services/board_service.js
index 38eea38f949..97e80afa3f8 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/boards/services/board_service.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/boards/services/board_service.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class BoardService {
     this.boards = Vue.resource(`${boardsEndpoint}{/id}.json`, {}, {
       issues: {
         method: 'GET',
-        url: `${gon.relative_url_root}/boards/${boardId}/issues.json`,
+        url: `${gon.relative_url_root}/-/boards/${boardId}/issues.json`,
       }
     });
     this.lists = Vue.resource(`${listsEndpoint}{/id}`, {}, {
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class BoardService {
         url: `${listsEndpoint}/generate.json`
       }
     });
-    this.issue = Vue.resource(`${gon.relative_url_root}/boards/${boardId}/issues{/id}`, {});
+    this.issue = Vue.resource(`${gon.relative_url_root}/-/boards/${boardId}/issues{/id}`, {});
     this.issues = Vue.resource(`${listsEndpoint}{/id}/issues`, {}, {
       bulkUpdate: {
         method: 'POST',
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/fix_global_board_routes_39073.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/fix_global_board_routes_39073.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cc9ae8592db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/fix_global_board_routes_39073.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Allow boards as top level route
+merge_request:
+author:
+type: fixed
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index 405bfcc2d8e..fc13dc4865f 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -44,6 +44,19 @@ Rails.application.routes.draw do
     get 'readiness' => 'health#readiness'
     resources :metrics, only: [:index]
     mount Peek::Railtie => '/peek'
+
+    # Boards resources shared between group and projects
+    resources :boards, only: [] do
+      resources :lists, module: :boards, only: [:index, :create, :update, :destroy] do
+        collection do
+          post :generate
+        end
+
+        resources :issues, only: [:index, :create, :update]
+      end
+
+      resources :issues, module: :boards, only: [:index, :update]
+    end
   end
 
   # Koding route
@@ -74,19 +87,6 @@ Rails.application.routes.draw do
   # Notification settings
   resources :notification_settings, only: [:create, :update]
 
-  # Boards resources shared between group and projects
-  resources :boards do
-    resources :lists, module: :boards, only: [:index, :create, :update, :destroy] do
-      collection do
-        post :generate
-      end
-
-      resources :issues, only: [:index, :create, :update]
-    end
-
-    resources :issues, module: :boards, only: [:index, :update]
-  end
-
   draw :google_api
   draw :import
   draw :uploads
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/path_regex.rb b/lib/gitlab/path_regex.rb
index 7c02c9c5c48..894bd5efae5 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/path_regex.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/path_regex.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ module Gitlab
       apple-touch-icon.png
       assets
       autocomplete
-      boards
       ci
       dashboard
       deploy.html