diff --git a/src/fileio.c b/src/fileio.c
index da591b525b1..7d02a3b525d 100644
--- a/src/fileio.c
+++ b/src/fileio.c
@@ -3232,6 +3232,8 @@ DIR defaults to current buffer's directory default.")
   tem = Fstring_equal (val, insdef);
   if (!NILP (tem) && !NILP (defalt))
     return defalt;
+  if (XSTRING (val)->size == 0 && NILP (insdef))
+    return defalt;
   return Fsubstitute_in_file_name (val);
 }