diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index 6641de01..51bc1dce 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -351,6 +351,14 @@ bool has_valid_path(const char *filename)
 	struct stat parentinfo;
 	bool validity = FALSE;
 
+	if (strcmp(parentdir, ".") == 0) {
+		char *currentdir = realpath(".", NULL);
+
+		if (currentdir == NULL)
+			statusline(ALERT, _("The working directory has disappeared"));
+
+		free(currentdir);
+	} else
 	if (stat(parentdir, &parentinfo) == -1) {
 		if (errno == ENOENT)
 			/* TRANSLATORS: Keep the next ten messages at most 76 characters. */