diff --git a/hw/9pfs/9p-local.c b/hw/9pfs/9p-local.c
index 45e9a1f..f3ebca4 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/9p-local.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/9p-local.c
@@ -1098,8 +1098,13 @@
 {
     if (dir_path) {
         v9fs_path_sprintf(target, "%s/%s", dir_path->data, name);
-    } else {
+    } else if (strcmp(name, "/")) {
         v9fs_path_sprintf(target, "%s", name);
+    } else {
+        /* We want the path of the export root to be relative, otherwise
+         * "*at()" syscalls would treat it as "/" in the host.
+         */
+        v9fs_path_sprintf(target, "%s", ".");
     }
     return 0;
 }