--- a/lib/File/pushd.pm
+++ b/lib/File/pushd.pm
@@ -39,8 +39,16 @@
     }
 
     my $tainted_dest;
-    eval { $tainted_dest = $target_dir ? abs_path($target_dir) : $orig };
-    croak "Can't locate absolute path for $target_dir: $@" if $@;
+    if ( (defined $target_dir) && (length $target_dir) ) {
+        my $abs;
+        eval { $abs = abs_path( $target_dir ) };
+        croak "Can't locate absolute path for $target_dir: $@" if $@;
+        croak "Can't locate absolute path for $target_dir: (abs_path returned blank)" if ! ( (defined $abs) && (length $abs) );
+        $tainted_dest = $abs;
+    }
+    else {
+        $tainted_dest = $orig;
+    }
 
     my $dest;
     if ( $tainted_dest =~ $options->{untaint_pattern} ) {