diff --git a/lisp/ffap.el b/lisp/ffap.el
index 6a4915fb5a3..b03e625c123 100644
--- a/lisp/ffap.el
+++ b/lisp/ffap.el
@@ -1512,6 +1512,7 @@ ffap--url-file-handler
       ;; We mainly just want to disable these bits:
       (substitute-in-file-name (car args))
       (expand-file-name (car args))
+      (unhandled-file-name-directory nil)
       (otherwise
        (apply operation args)))))