diff --git a/gemfeed.py b/gemfeed.py
index 404cccd..c724c65 100644
--- a/gemfeed.py
+++ b/gemfeed.py
@@ -35,11 +35,12 @@ def get_feed_title(directory):
     the content of the first heading line in the file, otherwise return a
     default feed title.
     """
+    default = os.path.basename(directory)
     for index_file in ("index.gmi", "index.gemini"):
         index_file = os.path.join(directory, index_file)
         if os.path.exists(index_file) and is_world_readable(index_file):
             return extract_first_heading(index_file, default)
-    return os.path.basename(directory)
+    return default
 
 def find_files(directory, n=10):
     """