diff --git a/sys/kern/uipc_usrreq.c b/sys/kern/uipc_usrreq.c
index 92058862791..b28aed29189 100644
--- a/sys/kern/uipc_usrreq.c
+++ b/sys/kern/uipc_usrreq.c
@@ -2921,8 +2921,9 @@ unp_connectat(int fd, struct socket *so, struct sockaddr *nam,
 		sa = malloc(sizeof(struct sockaddr_un), M_SONAME, M_WAITOK);
 	else
 		sa = NULL;
-	NDINIT_ATRIGHTS(&nd, LOOKUP, FOLLOW | LOCKSHARED | LOCKLEAF | EMPTYPATH,
-	    UIO_SYSSPACE, buf, fd, cap_rights_init_one(&rights, CAP_CONNECTAT));
+	NDINIT_ATRIGHTS(&nd, LOOKUP, FOLLOW | LOCKSHARED | LOCKLEAF |
+	    (fd == AT_FDCWD ? 0 : EMPTYPATH), UIO_SYSSPACE, buf, fd,
+	    cap_rights_init_one(&rights, CAP_CONNECTAT));
 	error = namei(&nd);
 	if (error)
 		vp = NULL;