diff --git a/src/fuse_mkdir.cpp b/src/fuse_mkdir.cpp
index 68f732a7..c7483c47 100644
--- a/src/fuse_mkdir.cpp
+++ b/src/fuse_mkdir.cpp
@@ -118,10 +118,14 @@ _mkdir(const ugid_t          ugid_,
   rv = getattrPolicy_(branches_,fusedirpath,existingbranches);
   if(rv < 0)
     return rv;
+  if(existingbranches.empty())
+    return -ENOENT;
 
   rv = mkdirPolicy_(branches_,fusedirpath,createbranches);
   if(rv < 0)
     return rv;
+  if(createbranches.empty())
+    return -ENOENT;
 
   return ::_mkdir_loop(ugid_,
                        existingbranches[0],