diff --git a/collects/mred/private/filedialog.ss b/collects/mred/private/filedialog.ss
index 45b1dc1d..93e176f9 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/filedialog.ss
+++ b/collects/mred/private/filedialog.ss
@@ -47,15 +47,17 @@
 	(raise-type-error who "list of 2-string lists" filters))
       (if (or (eq? (system-type) 'unix) force-unix?)
         (send (new path-dialog%
-                   [put?      put?]
-                   [dir?      dir?]
-                   [multi?    multi?]
-                   [message   message]
-                   [parent    parent]
-                   [directory directory]
-                   [filename  filename]
-                   ;; implements its own filters
-                   [filters (if (eq? filters default-filters) #t filters)])
+                [put?      put?]
+                [dir?      dir?]
+                [multi?    multi?]
+                [message   message]
+                [parent    parent]
+                [directory directory]
+                [filename  filename]
+                [filters
+                 (cond [(eq? filters default-filters) #t] ; has its own defaults
+                       [dir? #f]
+                       [else filters])])
               run)
         (let ([s (wx:file-selector
                   message directory filename extension
diff --git a/collects/mred/private/path-dialog.ss b/collects/mred/private/path-dialog.ss
index 7ff659b2..d574248c 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/path-dialog.ss
+++ b/collects/mred/private/path-dialog.ss
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
             ;; (list-of (list filter-name filter-glob))
             ;; can use multiple globs with ";" separators
             ;; #f => disable, #t => use default
-            [filters default-filters]
+            [filters #t]
             ;; predicates are used to filter paths that are shown -- they are
             ;; applied on the file/dir name (as a string) (either as an
             ;; absolute path or relative while current-directory is set);
@@ -89,12 +89,15 @@
             [guard #f]
             )
 
-      (when (eq? filters #t) (set! filters default-filters))
+      (cond [(eq? filters #t) (set! filters default-filters)]
+            [(null? filters)  (set! filters #f)])
 
       (when dir?
         (if show-file?
           (error 'path-dialog% "cannot use `show-file?' with `dir?'")
-          (set! show-file? (lambda (_) #f))))
+          (set! show-file? (lambda (_) #f)))
+        (when filters (error 'path-dialog% "cannot use `filters' with `dir?'")))
+      (printf "filters = ~s\n" filters)
 
       (define label
         (if dir?