diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/Base.py b/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
index 0e065e3..313728d 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
@@ -37,13 +37,14 @@ class BaseFolder(object):
         self.sync_this = True
         """Should this folder be included in syncing?"""
         self.ui = getglobalui()
-        self.name = name
+        # Top level dir name is always ''
+        self.name = name if not name == self.getsep() else ''
         self.repository = repository
         self.visiblename = repository.nametrans(name)
-        # In case the visiblename becomes '.' (top-level) we use '' as
-        # that is the name that e.g. the Maildir scanning will return
-        # for the top-level dir.
-        if self.visiblename == '.':
+        # In case the visiblename becomes '.' or '/' (top-level) we use
+        # '' as that is the name that e.g. the Maildir scanning will
+        # return for the top-level dir.
+        if self.visiblename == self.getsep():
             self.visiblename = ''
         self.config = repository.getconfig()
 
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/IMAP.py b/offlineimap/folder/IMAP.py
index 5d8d1c0..d804766 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/IMAP.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/IMAP.py
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ except NameError:
 class IMAPFolder(BaseFolder):
     def __init__(self, imapserver, name, repository):
         name = imaputil.dequote(name)
+        self.sep = imapserver.delim
         super(IMAPFolder, self).__init__(name, repository)
         self.expunge = repository.getexpunge()
         self.root = None # imapserver.root
-        self.sep = imapserver.delim
         self.imapserver = imapserver
         self.messagelist = None
         self.randomgenerator = random.Random()
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py b/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
index fd4228c..3d2cd37 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ magicline = "OFFLINEIMAP LocalStatus CACHE DATA - DO NOT MODIFY - FORMAT 1"
 
 class LocalStatusFolder(BaseFolder):
     def __init__(self, name, repository):
+        self.sep = '.' #needs to be set before super.__init__()
         super(LocalStatusFolder, self).__init__(name, repository)
-        self.sep = '.'
         self.filename = os.path.join(self.getroot(), self.getfolderbasename())
         self.messagelist = {}
         self.savelock = threading.Lock()
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py b/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
index d7639f4..973bc92 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
@@ -60,10 +60,10 @@ def gettimeseq():
 
 class MaildirFolder(BaseFolder):
     def __init__(self, root, name, sep, repository):
+        self.sep = sep # needs to be set before super().__init__
         super(MaildirFolder, self).__init__(name, repository)
         self.dofsync = self.config.getdefaultboolean("general", "fsync", True)
         self.root = root
-        self.sep = sep
         self.messagelist = None
         # check if we should use a different infosep to support Win file systems
         self.wincompatible = self.config.getdefaultboolean(
diff --git a/offlineimap/repository/IMAP.py b/offlineimap/repository/IMAP.py
index 8635f7c..a5ed84c 100644
--- a/offlineimap/repository/IMAP.py
+++ b/offlineimap/repository/IMAP.py
@@ -324,6 +324,8 @@ class IMAPRepository(BaseRepository):
         :param foldername: Full path of the folder to be created."""
         if self.getreference():
             foldername = self.getreference() + self.getsep() + foldername
+        if not foldername: # Create top level folder as folder separator
+            foldername = self.getsep()
 
         imapobj = self.imapserver.acquireconnection()
         try: