diff --git a/libisofs/ecma119_tree.c b/libisofs/ecma119_tree.c
index f8de49c..ca61b21 100644
--- a/libisofs/ecma119_tree.c
+++ b/libisofs/ecma119_tree.c
@@ -439,9 +439,11 @@ int create_tree(Ecma119Image *image, IsoNode *iso, Ecma119Node **tree,
 
                 if (depth == 1) { /* root is default */
                     image->rr_reloc_node = node;
-                } else if (depth == 2) { /* directories in root may be used */
+                } else if (depth == 2) {
+                    /* Directories in root may be used as relocation dir */
                     if (image->rr_reloc_dir != NULL)
-                        if (strcmp(iso->name, image->rr_reloc_dir) == 0)
+                        if (image->rr_reloc_dir[0] != 0 &&
+                            strcmp(iso->name, image->rr_reloc_dir) == 0)
                             image->rr_reloc_node = node;
                 }
 
diff --git a/libisofs/libisofs.h b/libisofs/libisofs.h
index e9d3e0a..c73cc75 100644
--- a/libisofs/libisofs.h
+++ b/libisofs/libisofs.h
@@ -1539,8 +1539,8 @@ int iso_write_opts_set_allow_deep_paths(IsoWriteOpts *opts, int allow);
 /**
  * This call describes the directory where to store Rock Ridge relocated
  * directories.
- * If not iso_write_opts_set_allow_deep_paths(,1) is in effect, then it is
- * necessary to relocate directories so that no ECMA-119 file path
+ * If not iso_write_opts_set_allow_deep_paths(,1) is in effect, then it may
+ * become necessary to relocate directories so that no ECMA-119 file path
  * has more than 8 components. These directories are grafted into either
  * the root directory of the ISO image or into a dedicated relocation
  * directory.