diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 7085ef52..b169def6 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+v4.8.2
+======
+
+v2.1.2
+======
+
+* #353: Fixed discovery of distributions when path is empty.
+
 v4.8.1
 ======
 
diff --git a/importlib_metadata/__init__.py b/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
index df7763c3..a7379810 100644
--- a/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
+++ b/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ def joinpath(self, child):
 
     def children(self):
         with suppress(Exception):
-            return os.listdir(self.root or '')
+            return os.listdir(self.root or '.')
         with suppress(Exception):
             return self.zip_children()
         return []