diff --git a/src/modules/fileman/e_mod_main.c b/src/modules/fileman/e_mod_main.c
index 58e7597ec..1f1b0dd56 100644
--- a/src/modules/fileman/e_mod_main.c
+++ b/src/modules/fileman/e_mod_main.c
@@ -451,6 +451,12 @@ static void
 _e_mod_menu_populate_done(void *data, Eio_File *handler __UNUSED__)
 {
    E_Menu *m = data;
+   if (!m->items)
+     {
+        e_menu_deactivate(m);
+        e_menu_item_submenu_set(m->parent_item, NULL);
+        return;
+     }
    m->items = eina_list_sort(m->items, 0, (Eina_Compare_Cb)_e_mod_menu_populate_sort);
    e_menu_thaw(m);
 }