diff --git a/libretro-common/file/file_path.c b/libretro-common/file/file_path.c
index 9cef250a5b..89629373fb 100644
--- a/libretro-common/file/file_path.c
+++ b/libretro-common/file/file_path.c
@@ -364,7 +364,8 @@ void fill_pathname_base(char *out, const char *in_path, size_t size)
 void fill_pathname_basedir(char *out_dir,
       const char *in_path, size_t size)
 {
-   retro_assert(strlcpy(out_dir, in_path, size) < size);
+   if (out_dir != in_path)
+      retro_assert(strlcpy(out_dir, in_path, size) < size);
    path_basedir(out_dir);
 }