diff --git a/nw/config.py b/nw/config.py
index cd8b5c63..722f4141 100644
--- a/nw/config.py
+++ b/nw/config.py
@@ -317,7 +317,10 @@ class Config:
         return True
 
     def setLastPath(self, lastPath):
-        self.lastPath = path.dirname(lastPath)
+        if lastPath is None or lastPath == "":
+            self.lastPath = ""
+        else:
+            self.lastPath = path.dirname(lastPath)
         return True
 
     def setWinSize(self, newWidth, newHeight):
diff --git a/tests/reference/novelwriter.conf b/tests/reference/novelwriter.conf
index 7ea29925..90c48661 100644
--- a/tests/reference/novelwriter.conf
+++ b/tests/reference/novelwriter.conf
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ backuponclose = False
 askbeforebackup = True
 
 [Path]
+lastpath = 
 recent0 = 
 recent1 = 
 recent2 = 
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 12fc5c18..4c4c2523 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ def testConfigInit(nwTemp,nwRef):
     tmpConf = path.join(nwTemp,"novelwriter.conf")
     refConf = path.join(nwRef, "novelwriter.conf")
     assert theConf.initConfig(nwTemp)
+    assert theConf.setLastPath("")
+    assert theConf.saveConfig()
     assert cmpFiles(tmpConf, refConf, [2])
     assert not theConf.confChanged