diff --git a/Doc/library/pathlib.rst b/Doc/library/pathlib.rst
index ab92c142c37a4f..709e7b49632c73 100644
--- a/Doc/library/pathlib.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/pathlib.rst
@@ -131,10 +131,11 @@ we also call *flavours*:
       >>> PurePath(Path('foo'), Path('bar'))
       PurePosixPath('foo/bar')
 
-   When *pathsegments* is empty, the current directory is assumed::
+   When *pathsegments* is empty or consists only of empty strings,
+   the current directory is assumed::
 
-      >>> PurePath()
-      PurePosixPath('.')
+      >>> PurePath(), PurePath('')
+      (PurePosixPath('.'), PurePosixPath('.'))
 
    If a segment is an absolute path, all previous segments are ignored
    (like :func:`os.path.join`)::
@@ -1040,8 +1041,8 @@ Querying file type and status
 
 .. method:: Path.exists(*, follow_symlinks=True)
 
-   Return ``True`` if the path points to an existing file or directory.
-   ``False`` will be returned if the path is invalid, inaccessible or missing.
+   Return ``True`` if the path points to an existing file or directory and
+   ``False`` if the path is invalid, inaccessible or missing.
    Use :meth:`Path.stat` to distinguish between these cases.
 
    This method normally follows symlinks; to check if a symlink exists, add
@@ -1049,6 +1050,8 @@ Querying file type and status
 
    ::
 
+      >>> Path('').exists()  # The current directory.
+      True
       >>> Path('.').exists()
       True
       >>> Path('setup.py').exists()
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_shutil.py b/Lib/test/test_shutil.py
index 06ebdf9b68f20f..a7825adf923c19 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_shutil.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_shutil.py
@@ -552,11 +552,7 @@ def raiser(fn, *args, **kwargs):
             os.lstat = orig_lstat
 
     def test_rmtree_uses_safe_fd_version_if_available(self):
-        _use_fd_functions = ({os.open, os.stat, os.unlink, os.rmdir} <=
-                             os.supports_dir_fd and
-                             os.listdir in os.supports_fd and
-                             os.stat in os.supports_follow_symlinks)
-        if _use_fd_functions:
+        if shutil._use_fd_functions:
             self.assertTrue(shutil.rmtree.avoids_symlink_attacks)
             tmp_dir = self.mkdtemp()
             d = os.path.join(tmp_dir, 'a')