diff --git a/src/nnn.c b/src/nnn.c
index 0c2b8107..ca0aab23 100644
--- a/src/nnn.c
+++ b/src/nnn.c
@@ -6908,7 +6908,8 @@ nochange:
 			/* Cannot descend in empty directories */
 			if (!ndents) {
 				cd = FALSE;
-				cfg.filtermode = g_state.selbm - 1;
+				if (g_state.selbm)
+					cfg.filtermode = g_state.selbm - 1;
 				g_state.selbm = g_state.runplugin = 0;
 				goto begin;
 			}