diff --git a/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php b/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
index e39fabed..59c760ba 100644
--- a/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
+++ b/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ class Net_SFTP extends Net_SSH2
             }
         }
 
-        if ($path[0] != '/') {
+        if (!strlen($path) || $path[0] != '/') {
             $path = $this->pwd . '/' . $path;
         }