diff --git a/vault/logical_passthrough.go b/vault/logical_passthrough.go
index aacd2e033..c971c4479 100644
--- a/vault/logical_passthrough.go
+++ b/vault/logical_passthrough.go
@@ -167,6 +167,10 @@ func (b *PassthroughBackend) GeneratesLeases() bool {
 }
 
 func (b *PassthroughBackend) handleWrite(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request, data *framework.FieldData) (*logical.Response, error) {
+	if req.Path == "" {
+		return logical.ErrorResponse("missing path"), nil
+	}
+
 	// Check that some fields are given
 	if len(req.Data) == 0 {
 		return logical.ErrorResponse("missing data fields"), nil