diff --git a/liquidprompt b/liquidprompt
index f04874f..96318d2 100755
--- a/liquidprompt
+++ b/liquidprompt
@@ -408,7 +408,11 @@ __shorten_path()
             echo "$p"
         fi
     elif [[ "$WORKING_SHELL" == "zsh" ]]; then
-        echo "%-${keep}~%${max_len}<${mask}<%~%<<"
+        if [[ "$len" -gt "$max_len" ]]; then
+            echo "%-${keep}~%${max_len}<${mask}<%~%<<"
+        else
+            echo "%~"
+        fi
     fi
 }