diff --git a/src/basic/fs-util.c b/src/basic/fs-util.c
index b90f343ed3..946f779a32 100644
--- a/src/basic/fs-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/fs-util.c
@@ -766,12 +766,11 @@ int chase_symlinks(const char *path, const char *original_root, unsigned flags,
                                                 return -ENOMEM;
                                 }
 
-                        }
-
-                        /* Prefix what's left to do with what we just read, and start the loop again,
-                         * but remain in the current directory. */
-
-                        joined = strjoin("/", destination, todo);
+                                /* Prefix what's left to do with what we just read, and start the loop again, but
+                                 * remain in the current directory. */
+                                joined = strjoin(destination, todo);
+                        } else
+                                joined = strjoin("/", destination, todo);
                         if (!joined)
                                 return -ENOMEM;