diff --git a/registry/reference.go b/registry/reference.go
index 8fde0d22..fc3e95e5 100644
--- a/registry/reference.go
+++ b/registry/reference.go
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func (r Reference) Validate() error {
 
 // ValidateRegistry validates the registry.
 func (r Reference) ValidateRegistry() error {
-	if uri, err := url.ParseRequestURI("dummy://" + r.Registry); err != nil || uri.Host != r.Registry {
+	if uri, err := url.ParseRequestURI("dummy://" + r.Registry); err != nil || uri.Host == "" || uri.Host != r.Registry {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid registry %q", errdef.ErrInvalidReference, r.Registry)
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/registry/reference_test.go b/registry/reference_test.go
index 20cab6b3..414b33bb 100644
--- a/registry/reference_test.go
+++ b/registry/reference_test.go
@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ func TestParseReferenceUglies(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "missing registry",
 			raw:  "hello-world:linux",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "missing registry (issue #698)",
+			raw:  "/hello-world:linux",
+		},
 		{
 			name: "invalid repo name",
 			raw:  "localhost/UPPERCASE/test",