diff --git a/rpcs3/Loader/TAR.cpp b/rpcs3/Loader/TAR.cpp
index 4eb568c3b7..5891f0e51e 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Loader/TAR.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Loader/TAR.cpp
@@ -568,8 +568,9 @@ void tar_object::save_directory(const std::string& target_path, utils::serial& a
 	auto save_header = [&](const fs::stat_t& stat, std::string_view name)
 	{
 		static_assert(sizeof(TARHeader) == 512);
+		ensure(src_dir_pos <= name.size());
 
-		std::string_view saved_path = name.size() == src_dir_pos ? name : name.substr(src_dir_pos);
+		std::string_view saved_path = name.size() == src_dir_pos ? std::string_view() : name.substr(src_dir_pos);
 
 		if (is_null)
 		{