diff --git a/ruby.c b/ruby.c
index b94937b0da..f297c2b0a8 100644
--- a/ruby.c
+++ b/ruby.c
@@ -671,8 +671,11 @@ ruby_init_loadpath(void)
 	    p = p2;
 	}
 #endif
+        baselen = p - libpath;
+    }
+    else {
+        baselen = 0;
     }
-    baselen = p - libpath;
     rb_str_resize(sopath, baselen);
     libpath = RSTRING_PTR(sopath);
 #define PREFIX_PATH() sopath