diff --git a/backend/src/services/secret/secret-service.ts b/backend/src/services/secret/secret-service.ts
index 0b2d6262e..f030ecee1 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/secret/secret-service.ts
+++ b/backend/src/services/secret/secret-service.ts
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ export const secretServiceFactory = ({
         }
       });
 
-      paths = deepPaths.length === 0 ? paths : deepPaths;
+      if (!deepPaths) return { secrets: [], imports: [] };
     } else {
       const folder = await folderDAL.findBySecretPath(projectId, environment, path);
       if (!folder) return { secrets: [], imports: [] };