diff --git a/src/ce_project.pas b/src/ce_project.pas
index b92a57ff..092c1c58 100644
--- a/src/ce_project.pas
+++ b/src/ce_project.pas
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ function TCEProject.outputFilename: string;
 begin
   result := currentConfiguration.pathsOptions.outputFilename;
   result := CEMainForm.expandSymbolicString(result);
-  if result <> '' then
+  if result <> '``' then
   begin
     if not fileExists(result) then
       result := getAbsoluteFilename(result);