diff --git a/linux-user/path.c b/linux-user/path.c
index 27c7d50518..06b1f5fb6f 100644
--- a/linux-user/path.c
+++ b/linux-user/path.c
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ const char *path(const char *name)
 {
     /* Only do absolute paths: quick and dirty, but should mostly be OK.
        Could do relative by tracking cwd. */
-    if (!base || name[0] != '/')
+    if (!base || !name || name[0] != '/')
 	return name;
 
     return follow_path(base, name) ?: name;