diff --git a/plugin/fugitive.vim b/plugin/fugitive.vim
index be3b99b..99b78f1 100644
--- a/plugin/fugitive.vim
+++ b/plugin/fugitive.vim
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@ function! FugitiveExtractGitDir(path) abort
   let path = s:Slash(a:path)
   if path =~# '^fugitive:'
     return matchstr(path, '\C^fugitive:\%(//\)\=\zs.\{-\}\ze\%(//\|::\|$\)')
+  elseif empty(path)
+    return ''
   elseif isdirectory(path)
     let path = fnamemodify(path, ':p:s?/$??')
   else