diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 00c75c67..c1cda334 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-8.3.53
+8.3.54
diff --git a/database/DBio.c b/database/DBio.c
index 8508c711..3f662eed 100644
--- a/database/DBio.c
+++ b/database/DBio.c
@@ -3173,6 +3173,10 @@ dbWriteCellFunc(cellUse, cdarg)
 	    }
 	    else
 		break;
+
+	    /* If there are no common components, then restore the leading '/' */
+	    if ((*pathorigin == '/') && (pathstart == pathorigin + 1))
+		pathstart = pathorigin;
 	}
 	if (pathend != NULL)
 	{