diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Storage/SMB.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Storage/SMB.php
index a83887fcda6d9..34d7585f6e923 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Storage/SMB.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Storage/SMB.php
@@ -676,7 +676,8 @@ public function mkdir($path) {
 
 	public function file_exists($path) {
 		try {
-			if ($this->caseSensitive === false) {
+			// Case sensitive filesystem doesn't matter for root directory
+			if ($this->caseSensitive === false && $path !== '') {
 				$filename = basename($path);
 				$siblings = $this->getDirectoryContent(dirname($this->buildPath($path)));
 				foreach ($siblings as $sibling) {