diff --git a/core/src/main/java/jenkins/model/Jenkins.java b/core/src/main/java/jenkins/model/Jenkins.java
index 66adc45f82e8..0ceb2fe4a184 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/jenkins/model/Jenkins.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/jenkins/model/Jenkins.java
@@ -3017,7 +3017,7 @@ public void setNumExecutors(/* @javax.annotation.Nonnegative*/ int n) throws IOE
      */
     public Item getItem(String pathName, ItemGroup context) {
         if (context == null)  context = this;
-        if (pathName == null) return null;
+        if (Util.fixEmpty(pathName) == null) return null;
 
         if (pathName.startsWith("/"))   // absolute
             return getItemByFullName(pathName);