diff --git a/spring-boot-actuator/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/actuate/endpoint/mvc/AbstractMvcEndpoint.java b/spring-boot-actuator/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/actuate/endpoint/mvc/AbstractMvcEndpoint.java
index 26ee8c2b7f3..bd1abcd6ee6 100644
--- a/spring-boot-actuator/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/actuate/endpoint/mvc/AbstractMvcEndpoint.java
+++ b/spring-boot-actuator/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/actuate/endpoint/mvc/AbstractMvcEndpoint.java
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractMvcEndpoint extends WebMvcConfigurerAdapter
 	 * Endpoint URL path.
 	 */
 	@NotNull
-	@Pattern(regexp = "/.*|^$", message = "Path must start with /")
+	@Pattern(regexp = "/.*|^$", message = "Path must start with / or be empty")
 	private String path;
 
 	/**