diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/extensions/String.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/extensions/String.kt
index a8f4a9f57..ad9a4ec58 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/extensions/String.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/extensions/String.kt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package com.simplemobiletools.gallery.extensions
 import com.bumptech.glide.signature.ObjectKey
 import com.simplemobiletools.commons.helpers.OTG_PATH
 import java.io.File
+import java.io.IOException
 
 fun String.getFileSignature(): ObjectKey {
     val file = File(this)
@@ -35,4 +36,10 @@ fun String.shouldFolderBeVisible(excludedPaths: MutableSet<String>, includedPath
 }
 
 // recognize /sdcard/DCIM as the same folder as /storage/emulated/0/DCIM
-fun String.getDistinctPath() = if (startsWith(OTG_PATH)) toLowerCase() else File(this).canonicalPath.toLowerCase()
+fun String.getDistinctPath(): String {
+    return try {
+        if (startsWith(OTG_PATH)) toLowerCase() else File(this).canonicalPath.toLowerCase()
+    } catch (e: IOException) {
+        toLowerCase()
+    }
+}