diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index 2b652d7f80..45df5dc6c5 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ end
 
 # try to call realpath on as much as possible
 function safe_realpath(path)
-    isempty(path) && return path
     if ispath(path)
         try
             return realpath(path)
@@ -128,6 +127,8 @@ function safe_realpath(path)
         end
     end
     a, b = splitdir(path)
+    # path cannot be reduced at the root or drive, avoid stack overflow
+    isempty(b) && return path
     return joinpath(safe_realpath(a), b)
 end
 
diff --git a/test/misc.jl b/test/misc.jl
index e9b3d00ff6..3a386d161a 100644
--- a/test/misc.jl
+++ b/test/misc.jl
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ end
 end
 
 @testset "safe_realpath" begin
+    realpath(Sys.BINDIR) == Pkg.safe_realpath(Sys.BINDIR)
     # issue #3085
-    for p in ("", "some-non-existing-path")
+    for p in ("", "some-non-existing-path", "some-non-existing-drive:")
         @test p == Pkg.safe_realpath(p)
     end
 end