diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 999209d2f6d77d3b34e1dbf274a8ac2b00cfdac0..5b8876c557527fa75bbf32e5a5218d52591a18e5 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ CVS Code -
 	- Fix incorrect cursor location when cutting long lines
 	  (David Benbennick).
 - files.c:
+  do_browser()
+	- Fix incorrect path check for check_operating_dir() 
+	  (David Benbennick).
   open_file()
 	- Fix FD leak with file load error (David Benbennick).
   save_history()
diff --git a/files.c b/files.c
index e6225a4113a39a805fe6ca4cc1cc9f2f83ab9d14..b967d2584281f9efeff939c276c0b519074a384f 100644
--- a/files.c
+++ b/files.c
@@ -2613,14 +2613,12 @@ char *do_browser(const char *inpath)
 		break;
 	    }
 
-	    path = mallocstrcpy(path, filelist[selected]);
-
 #ifndef DISABLE_OPERATINGDIR
 	    /* Note: The case of the user's being completely outside the
 	       operating directory is handled elsewhere, before this
 	       point */
 	    if (operating_dir != NULL) {
-		if (check_operating_dir(path, 0)) {
+		if (check_operating_dir(filelist[selected], 0)) {
 		    statusbar(_("Can't visit parent in restricted mode"));
 		    beep();
 		    break;
@@ -2628,6 +2626,8 @@ char *do_browser(const char *inpath)
 	    }
 #endif
 
+	    path = mallocstrcpy(path, filelist[selected]);
+
 	    /* SPK for '.' path, get the current path via getcwd */
 	    if (!strcmp(path, "./..")) {
 		free(path);