diff --git a/django/core/files/storage.py b/django/core/files/storage.py
index 977b6a68a8..5d301a317c 100644
--- a/django/core/files/storage.py
+++ b/django/core/files/storage.py
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ class FileSystemStorage(Storage):
         return name
 
     def delete(self, name):
+        assert name, "The name argument is not allowed to be empty."
         name = self.path(name)
         # If the file exists, delete it from the filesystem.
         # Note that there is a race between os.path.exists and os.remove:
diff --git a/tests/file_storage/tests.py b/tests/file_storage/tests.py
index 6c3c559660..e6caabf9d9 100644
--- a/tests/file_storage/tests.py
+++ b/tests/file_storage/tests.py
@@ -364,6 +364,14 @@ class FileStorageTests(unittest.TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(IOError):
             self.storage.save('error.file', f1)
 
+    def test_delete_no_name(self):
+        """
+        Calling delete with an empty name should not try to remove the base
+        storage directory, but fail loudly (#20660).
+        """
+        with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):
+            self.storage.delete('')
+
 
 class CustomStorage(FileSystemStorage):
     def get_available_name(self, name):