diff --git a/usr.sbin/autofs/common.c b/usr.sbin/autofs/common.c
index a6ed90909ec..7c8df4205a8 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/autofs/common.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/autofs/common.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ create_directory(const char *path)
 	 */
 	copy = tofree = checked_strdup(path + 1);
 
-	partial = checked_strdup("");
+	partial = checked_strdup("/");
 	for (;;) {
 		component = strsep(&copy, "/");
 		if (component == NULL)