diff --git a/lisp/ffap.el b/lisp/ffap.el
index 87531110b8..21312b34c3 100644
--- a/lisp/ffap.el
+++ b/lisp/ffap.el
@@ -514,6 +514,7 @@ ffap-file-exists-string
 The optional NOMODIFY argument suppresses the extra search."
   (cond
    ((not file) nil)			; quietly reject nil
+   ((string-empty-p file) nil)		; reject empty string
    ((file-exists-p file) file)		; try unmodified first
    ;; three reasons to suppress search:
    (nomodify nil)