diff --git a/MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding/Encoder/MediaEncoder.cs b/MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding/Encoder/MediaEncoder.cs
index 383e937583..897684b732 100644
--- a/MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding/Encoder/MediaEncoder.cs
+++ b/MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding/Encoder/MediaEncoder.cs
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ namespace MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Encoder
                 {
                     var directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(FFMpegPath);
 
-                    if (FileSystem.ContainsSubPath(ConfigurationManager.ApplicationPaths.ProgramDataPath, directory))
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(directory) && FileSystem.ContainsSubPath(ConfigurationManager.ApplicationPaths.ProgramDataPath, directory))
                     {
                         await new FontConfigLoader(_httpClient, ConfigurationManager.ApplicationPaths, _logger, _zipClient,
                                 FileSystem).DownloadFonts(directory).ConfigureAwait(false);