diff --git a/src/nix/ls.cc b/src/nix/ls.cc
index 3476dfb05..417b7b421 100644
--- a/src/nix/ls.cc
+++ b/src/nix/ls.cc
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ struct MixLs : virtual Args
                 showFile(curPath, relPath);
         };
 
+        if (path == "/") {
+            path = "";
+        }
+
         auto st = accessor->stat(path);
         if (st.type == FSAccessor::Type::tMissing)
             throw Error(format("path ‘%1%’ does not exist") % path);