--- Python-2.5/Modules/getpath.c~	2007-02-06 16:15:39.000000000 +0000
+++ Python-2.5/Modules/getpath.c	2007-02-06 15:22:49.000000000 +0000
@@ -135,9 +135,16 @@
 reduce(char *dir)
 {
     size_t i = strlen(dir);
-    while (i > 0 && dir[i] != SEP)
-        --i;
-    dir[i] = '\0';
+    if (i > 1) {
+        while (i > 0 && dir[--i] != SEP);
+        if (i == 0 && dir[0] == SEP)
+            dir[1] = '\0';
+        else
+            dir[i] = '\0';
+    }
+    else if (i == 1) {
+      dir[0] = '\0';
+    }
 }