diff --git a/lib/private/Files/SetupManager.php b/lib/private/Files/SetupManager.php
index 98792ed804322..9fb7b030e1da7 100644
--- a/lib/private/Files/SetupManager.php
+++ b/lib/private/Files/SetupManager.php
@@ -344,7 +344,9 @@ public function setupRoot(): void {
 	 * @return IUser|null
 	 */
 	private function getUserForPath(string $path) {
-		if (substr_count($path, '/') < 2) {
+		if (strpos($path, '/__groupfolders') === 0) {
+			return null;
+		} elseif (substr_count($path, '/') < 2) {
 			if ($user = $this->userSession->getUser()) {
 				return $user;
 			} else {