diff --git a/src/tools/balooctl/configcommand.cpp b/src/tools/balooctl/configcommand.cpp
--- a/src/tools/balooctl/configcommand.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/balooctl/configcommand.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 #include <QTextStream>
 #include <QFileInfo>
+#include <QDir>
 
 #include <KLocalizedString>
 
@@ -292,7 +293,7 @@
             }
 
             for (const QString& folder : folders) {
-                if (path.startsWith(folder)) {
+                if (path.startsWith(folder + QDir::separator())) {
                     out << i18n("Parent folder %1 is already in the list of include folders", folder) << endl;
                     return 1;
                 }
@@ -334,7 +335,7 @@
             }
 
             for (const QString& folder : folders) {
-                if (path.startsWith(folder)) {
+                if (path.startsWith(folder + QDir::separator())) {
                     out << i18n("Parent folder %1 is already in the list of exclude folders", folder) << endl;
                     return 1;
                 }