diff --git a/src/ai/backend/manager/models/vfolder.py b/src/ai/backend/manager/models/vfolder.py
index 000544cdc41..a9fb82fb17c 100644
--- a/src/ai/backend/manager/models/vfolder.py
+++ b/src/ai/backend/manager/models/vfolder.py
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ def vfid(self) -> VFolderID:
 
 
 def is_unmanaged(unmanaged_path: Optional[str]) -> bool:
-    return (unmanaged_path is not None) and bool(unmanaged_path)
+    return (unmanaged_path is not None) and unmanaged_path != ""
 
 
 def verify_vfolder_name(folder: str) -> bool: