diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php
index ca14daa5945..f92e265d229 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Block/Template.php
@@ -237,10 +237,10 @@ public function fetchView($fileName)
 
         try {
             $includeFilePath = realpath($this->_viewDir . DS . $fileName);
-            if (strpos($includeFilePath, realpath($this->_viewDir)) === 0 || $this->_getAllowSymlinks()) {
+            if ($includeFilePath != '' && (strpos($includeFilePath, realpath($this->_viewDir)) === 0 || $this->_getAllowSymlinks())) {
                 include $includeFilePath;
             } else {
-                Mage::log('Not valid template file:'.$fileName, Zend_Log::CRIT, null, null, true);
+                Mage::log('Not valid template file:'.$fileName, Zend_Log::CRIT, null, true);
             }
 
         } catch (Exception $e) {