diff --git a/src/path.c b/src/path.c
index c3d3eb1ce..9b15c8cf9 100644
--- a/src/path.c
+++ b/src/path.c
@@ -700,7 +700,8 @@ static bool _check_dir_contents(
 		return false;
 
 	/* save excursion */
-	git_buf_joinpath(dir, dir->ptr, sub);
+	if (git_buf_joinpath(dir, dir->ptr, sub) < 0)
+		return false;
 
 	result = predicate(dir->ptr);