diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index eeac6c8c0d..4669b469ea 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -1476,7 +1476,7 @@ class YoutubeDL:
             else:
                 return name[:max_file_name]
 
-        filename = os.path.join(*map(trim_filename, Path(filename).parts))
+        filename = os.path.join(*map(trim_filename, Path(filename).parts) or '.')
         return filename + suffix
 
     @_catch_unsafe_extension_error