diff --git a/aai_cli/transcribe_batch.py b/aai_cli/transcribe_batch.py
index 358f4085..adcfe62b 100644
--- a/aai_cli/transcribe_batch.py
+++ b/aai_cli/transcribe_batch.py
@@ -73,7 +73,10 @@ def expand_sources(source: str | None, *, from_stdin: bool, sample: bool) -> lis
     """
     if from_stdin:
         return _stdin_sources(source, sample=sample)
-    if source is None or sample or source == "-" or source.startswith(_URL_PREFIXES):
+    if not source or sample or source == "-" or source.startswith(_URL_PREFIXES):
+        # `not source` also catches "": Path("") is ".", which would otherwise scan the
+        # whole working directory. An empty source belongs on the single-source path,
+        # where it reads as "Provide an audio path or URL."
         return None
     path = Path(source)
     if path.is_dir():
diff --git a/tests/test_transcribe_batch_sources.py b/tests/test_transcribe_batch_sources.py
index d3c1f0fc..e387c82f 100644
--- a/tests/test_transcribe_batch_sources.py
+++ b/tests/test_transcribe_batch_sources.py
@@ -152,11 +152,27 @@ def test_from_stdin_rejects_sample():
     assert "--from-stdin reads sources from stdin" in result.output
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("source", ["-", "https://example.com/a.mp3", None])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("source", ["-", "https://example.com/a.mp3", None, ""])
 def test_non_batch_sources_return_none(source):
+    # An empty string is not a batch source: Path("") resolves to ".", so without
+    # this guard it would silently scan the whole working directory recursively.
     assert transcribe_batch.expand_sources(source, from_stdin=False, sample=False) is None
 
 
+def test_empty_source_argument_does_not_batch_the_working_directory(monkeypatch):
+    _auth()
+    # A loud canary: if "" ever reaches directory scanning again, every audio file
+    # under cwd gets queued. rglob must never run for an empty source.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        transcribe_batch.Path,
+        "rglob",
+        lambda self, pattern: pytest.fail("empty source must not scan the directory"),
+    )
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["transcribe", ""])
+    assert result.exit_code == 2
+    assert "Provide an audio path or URL." in result.output
+
+
 def test_sample_returns_none_even_without_source():
     assert transcribe_batch.expand_sources(None, from_stdin=False, sample=True) is None