diff --git a/demux/demux_cue.c b/demux/demux_cue.c
index 6c869f1343353..bfac627385e1a 100644
--- a/demux/demux_cue.c
+++ b/demux/demux_cue.c
@@ -92,11 +92,10 @@ static bool open_source(struct timeline *tl, char *filename)
 
     struct bstr dirname = mp_dirname(tl->demuxer->filename);
 
-    struct bstr base_filename = bstr0(mp_basename(filename));
-    if (!base_filename.len) {
+    if (!filename[0]) {
         MP_WARN(tl, "CUE: Invalid audio filename in .cue file!\n");
     } else {
-        char *fullname = mp_path_join_bstr(ctx, dirname, base_filename);
+        char *fullname = mp_path_join_bstr(ctx, dirname, bstr0(filename));
         if (try_open(tl, fullname)) {
             res = true;
             goto out;