diff --git a/lisp/vc/vc.el b/lisp/vc/vc.el
index 09918fad31e..af129f3da5f 100644
--- a/lisp/vc/vc.el
+++ b/lisp/vc/vc.el
@@ -1474,7 +1474,7 @@ BEWARE: this function may change the current buffer."
         (vc-deduce-fileset not-state-changing allow-unregistered state-model-only-files)))
      ((and (not buffer-file-name)
 	   (setq backend (vc-responsible-backend default-directory)))
-      (list backend default-directory))
+      (list backend (list default-directory)))
      ((and allow-unregistered (not (vc-registered buffer-file-name)))
       (if state-model-only-files
 	  (list (vc-backend-for-registration (buffer-file-name))