diff --git a/src/system/boot/loader/vfs.cpp b/src/system/boot/loader/vfs.cpp
index 8408970a4a..a136b6ce91 100644
--- a/src/system/boot/loader/vfs.cpp
+++ b/src/system/boot/loader/vfs.cpp
@@ -1044,7 +1044,7 @@ open_from(Directory *directory, const char *name, int mode, mode_t permissions)
 			if (lastSlash[1] == '\0')
 				return B_ENTRY_NOT_FOUND;
 
-			lastSlash = '\0';
+			*lastSlash = '\0';
 			name = lastSlash + 1;
 
 			// resolve the directory