diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Filesystem/FilesystemManager.php b/src/Illuminate/Filesystem/FilesystemManager.php
index 0475c40e0363..51a5e5e94b56 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Filesystem/FilesystemManager.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Filesystem/FilesystemManager.php
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ public function createSftpDriver(array $config)
     {
         $provider = SftpConnectionProvider::fromArray($config);
 
-        $root = $config['root'] ?? '/';
+        $root = $config['root'] ?? '';
 
         $visibility = PortableVisibilityConverter::fromArray(
             $config['permissions'] ?? []