diff --git a/ncdump/ncdump.c b/ncdump/ncdump.c
index f0cf351696..1d0b9a7406 100644
--- a/ncdump/ncdump.c
+++ b/ncdump/ncdump.c
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ name_path(const char *path)
     size_t cplen = 0;
     char* base = NULL;
 
-    if((cvtpath = NCpathcvt(path))==NULL)
+    if (NCpathcanonical(path, &cvtpath) || cvtpath==NULL)
         return NULL;
 
     /* See if this is a url */