diff --git a/mailnews/imap/src/nsImapService.cpp b/mailnews/imap/src/nsImapService.cpp
index 1d97dec29d..60af2084a8 100644
--- a/mailnews/imap/src/nsImapService.cpp
+++ b/mailnews/imap/src/nsImapService.cpp
@@ -2734,7 +2734,7 @@ NS_IMETHODIMP nsImapService::NewChannel2(nsIURI *aURI,
     nsCString fullFolderName;
     if (parent)
       fullFolderName = folderName;
-    if (!parent && !folderName.IsEmpty())  // check if this folder is another user's folder
+    if (!parent && !folderName.IsEmpty() && imapRoot) // Check if this folder is another user's folder.
     {
       fullFolderName = nsIMAPNamespaceList::GenerateFullFolderNameWithDefaultNamespace(serverKey.get(), 
                                                                                        folderName.get(),