diff --git a/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php b/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
index 1729ef83..0c568e53 100644
--- a/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
+++ b/phpseclib/Net/SFTP.php
@@ -750,7 +750,7 @@ class SFTP extends SSH2
     {
         $files = $this->_list($dir, false);
 
-        if (!$recursive) {
+        if (!$recursive || $files === false) {
             return $files;
         }