diff --git a/tez-api/src/main/java/org/apache/tez/client/TezClientUtils.java b/tez-api/src/main/java/org/apache/tez/client/TezClientUtils.java
index d34d31e4cf..2d9926fc81 100644
--- a/tez-api/src/main/java/org/apache/tez/client/TezClientUtils.java
+++ b/tez-api/src/main/java/org/apache/tez/client/TezClientUtils.java
@@ -1047,6 +1047,10 @@ private static boolean checkAncestorPermissionsForAllUsers(Configuration conf, P
     }
 
     while (pathComponent != null) {
+      int depth = pathComponent.depth();
+      if (0 == depth) {
+        break;
+      }
       if (!fs.getFileStatus(pathComponent).getPermission().getOtherAction().implies(permission)) {
         return false;
       }