diff --git a/src/extract.c b/src/extract.c
index 37ab2956..b70b6c2f 100644
--- a/src/extract.c
+++ b/src/extract.c
@@ -854,6 +854,9 @@ maybe_recoverable (char *file_name, bool regular, bool *interdir_made)
     case EEXIST:
       /* Remove an old file, if the options allow this.  */
 
+      if (strlen(file_name) == 1 && *file_name == '.')
+          return RECOVER_NO;
+
       switch (old_files_option)
 	{
 	case SKIP_OLD_FILES: