diff --git a/lisp/files.el b/lisp/files.el
index 65f9039b33..c5817be8da 100644
--- a/lisp/files.el
+++ b/lisp/files.el
@@ -5170,7 +5170,7 @@ file-name-split
                   (substring dir 0 -1))
                 components)
           (setq filename nil))))
-    components))
+    (delq "" components)))
 
 (defun file-parent-directory (filename)
   "Return the directory name of the parent directory of FILENAME.