diff --git a/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/jvm/compiler/cliCompilerUtils.kt b/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/jvm/compiler/cliCompilerUtils.kt
index 7e68326792f..d590a4dce36 100644
--- a/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/jvm/compiler/cliCompilerUtils.kt
+++ b/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/jvm/compiler/cliCompilerUtils.kt
@@ -115,7 +115,10 @@ fun writeOutput(
         return
     }
 
-    val outputDir = configuration.get(JVMConfigurationKeys.OUTPUT_DIRECTORY) ?: File(".")
+    val outputDir = configuration.get(JVMConfigurationKeys.OUTPUT_DIRECTORY)
+        ?.takeUnless { it.path.isBlank() }
+        ?: File(".")
+
     outputFiles.writeAll(outputDir, messageCollector, reportOutputFiles)
 }