diff --git a/collects/scribble/basic.ss b/collects/scribble/basic.ss
index 0aefa064b2..ddf67325db 100644
--- a/collects/scribble/basic.ss
+++ b/collects/scribble/basic.ss
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
   ;; Derive the name from the module path:
   (let ([p (collapse-module-path-index
             mod
-            (current-directory))])
+            (build-path (current-directory) "dummy"))])
     (if (path? p)
         ;; If we got a path back anyway, then it's best to use the resolved
         ;; name; if the current directory has changed since we 
diff --git a/collects/syntax/modcollapse.ss b/collects/syntax/modcollapse.ss
index 774083c8b8..c90c6c9372 100644
--- a/collects/syntax/modcollapse.ss
+++ b/collects/syntax/modcollapse.ss
@@ -45,11 +45,18 @@
 
     (define (combine-relative-elements elements)
 
+      (define (extract-base relto)
+        (let-values ([(base n d?) (split-path relto)])
+          (if (eq? base 'relative) 
+              'same 
+              (if (not base)
+                  relto ; strange case: relto is a root directory
+                  base))))
+
       ;; Used for 'file paths, so it's platform specific:
       (define (attach-to-relative-path relto)
         (apply build-path
-               (let-values ([(base n d?) (split-path relto)])
-                 (if (eq? base 'relative) 'same base))
+               (extract-base relto)
                (map (lambda (i) (if (bytes? i) (bytes->path i) i))
                     elements)))
 
@@ -58,8 +65,7 @@
       (cond
         [(or (path? relto-mp) (and (string? relto-mp) (ormap path? elements)))
          (apply build-path
-                (let-values ([(base name dir?) (split-path relto-mp)])
-                  (if (eq? base 'relative) 'same base))
+                (extract-base relto-mp)
                 (map (lambda (x) (if (bytes? x) (bytes->path x) x))
                      elements))]
         [(string? relto-mp)