diff -urNp tar-1.20-orig/src/names.c tar-1.20/src/names.c
--- tar-1.20-orig/src/names.c	2008-09-24 10:53:41.000000000 +0200
+++ tar-1.20/src/names.c	2008-09-24 10:57:28.000000000 +0200
@@ -289,8 +289,7 @@ static int matching_flags; /* exclude_fn
    static storage and can't be relied upon across two calls.
 
    If CHANGE_DIRS is true, treat any entries of type NELT_CHDIR as
-   the request to change to the given directory.  If filename_terminator
-   is NUL, CHANGE_DIRS is effectively always false.
+   the request to change to the given directory.
 
    Entries of type NELT_FMASK cause updates of the matching_flags
    value. */
@@ -301,9 +300,6 @@ name_next_elt (int change_dirs)
   const char *source;
   char *cursor;
 
-  if (filename_terminator == '\0')
-    change_dirs = 0;
-
   while (name_index != names)
     {
       struct name_elt *ep;