diff --git a/core/core-lib.el b/core/core-lib.el
index 54655819d..9c1205e96 100644
--- a/core/core-lib.el
+++ b/core/core-lib.el
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
                    full
                    (follow-symlinks t)
                    (type 'files)
-                   (relative-to (unless full (if (nlistp path-or-paths) path-or-paths)))
+                   (relative-to (unless full default-directory))
                    (depth 99999)
                    (match "^[^.]"))
   "Returns a list of files/directories in PATH-OR-PATHS (one string path or a