diff --git a/storages/backends/ftp.py b/storages/backends/ftp.py
index ddcb87f9..2596a07f 100644
--- a/storages/backends/ftp.py
+++ b/storages/backends/ftp.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def _decode_location(self, location):
         """Return splitted configuration data from location."""
         splitted_url = re.search(
             r"^(?P<scheme>.+)://(?P<user>.+):(?P<passwd>.+)@"
-            r"(?P<host>.+):(?P<port>\d+)/(?P<path>.*)$",
+            r"(?P<host>.+):(?P<port>\d+)(?P<path>/.*)?$",
             location,
         )
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def _decode_location(self, location):
         config["active"] = splitted_url["scheme"] == "aftp"
         config["secure"] = splitted_url["scheme"] == "ftps"
 
-        config["path"] = splitted_url["path"] or "/"
+        config["path"] = splitted_url["path"][1:] if splitted_url["path"] else None
         config["host"] = splitted_url["host"]
         config["user"] = splitted_url["user"]
         config["passwd"] = splitted_url["passwd"]
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def _start_connection(self):
                     ftp.prot_p()
                 if self._config["active"]:
                     ftp.set_pasv(False)
-                if self._config["path"] != "":
+                if self._config["path"]:
                     ftp.cwd(self._config["path"])
                 self._connection = ftp
                 return
diff --git a/tests/test_ftp.py b/tests/test_ftp.py
index 5ef97d98..3d8eb6f9 100644
--- a/tests/test_ftp.py
+++ b/tests/test_ftp.py
@@ -49,6 +49,39 @@ def test_init_location_from_setting(self, mock_setting):
 
     def test_decode_location(self):
         config = self.storage._decode_location(URL)
+        wanted_config = {
+            "passwd": "b@r",
+            "host": "localhost",
+            "user": "foo",
+            "active": False,
+            "path": "",
+            "port": 2121,
+            "secure": False,
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(config, wanted_config)
+        config = self.storage._decode_location("ftp://foo:b@r@localhost:2121")
+        wanted_config = {
+            "passwd": "b@r",
+            "host": "localhost",
+            "user": "foo",
+            "active": False,
+            "path": None,
+            "port": 2121,
+            "secure": False,
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(config, wanted_config)
+        config = self.storage._decode_location("ftp://foo:b@r@localhost:2121/test/dir")
+        wanted_config = {
+            "passwd": "b@r",
+            "host": "localhost",
+            "user": "foo",
+            "active": False,
+            "path": "test/dir",
+            "port": 2121,
+            "secure": False,
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(config, wanted_config)
+        config = self.storage._decode_location("ftp://foo:b@r@localhost:2121//")
         wanted_config = {
             "passwd": "b@r",
             "host": "localhost",
@@ -59,6 +92,19 @@ def test_decode_location(self):
             "secure": False,
         }
         self.assertEqual(config, wanted_config)
+        config = self.storage._decode_location(
+            "ftp://foo:b@r@localhost:2121//root/test/dir"
+        )
+        wanted_config = {
+            "passwd": "b@r",
+            "host": "localhost",
+            "user": "foo",
+            "active": False,
+            "path": "/root/test/dir",
+            "port": 2121,
+            "secure": False,
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(config, wanted_config)
         # Test active FTP
         config = self.storage._decode_location("a" + URL)
         wanted_config = {
@@ -66,7 +112,7 @@ def test_decode_location(self):
             "host": "localhost",
             "user": "foo",
             "active": True,
-            "path": "/",
+            "path": "",
             "port": 2121,
             "secure": False,
         }
@@ -277,7 +323,7 @@ def test_decode_location(self):
             "host": "localhost",
             "user": "foo",
             "active": False,
-            "path": "/",
+            "path": "",
             "port": 2121,
             "secure": True,
         }