diff --git a/libs/libc/libgen/lib_basename.c b/libs/libc/libgen/lib_basename.c
index 593d7e02698..9984c238204 100644
--- a/libs/libc/libgen/lib_basename.c
+++ b/libs/libc/libgen/lib_basename.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ FAR char *basename(FAR char *path)
         }
       else
         {
-          return "/";
+          return path;
         }
     }