diff --git a/Lib/importlib/metadata/__init__.py b/Lib/importlib/metadata/__init__.py
index f5172eefc18..b3e8fb05f1d 100644
--- a/Lib/importlib/metadata/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/importlib/metadata/__init__.py
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ def joinpath(self, child):
 
     def children(self):
         with suppress(Exception):
-            return os.listdir(self.root or '')
+            return os.listdir(self.root or '.')
         with suppress(Exception):
             return self.zip_children()
         return []
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2021-11-09-09-04-19.bpo-45765.JVobxK.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2021-11-09-09-04-19.bpo-45765.JVobxK.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a1f4a1f7aa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2021-11-09-09-04-19.bpo-45765.JVobxK.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+In importlib.metadata, fix distribution discovery for an empty path.