diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2e84b11..6af7221 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ this project uses date-based 'snapshot' version identifiers.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+- Skip README rename when this has no extension (issue \#388)
+
 ## [2024-10-16]
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/l3build-ctan.lua b/l3build-ctan.lua
index 167cd33..5b1d1c4 100644
--- a/l3build-ctan.lua
+++ b/l3build-ctan.lua
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@ function ctan()
       end
     end
     -- Rename README if necessary
-    if ctanreadme ~= "" and not match(lower(ctanreadme),"^readme%.%w+") then
+    if ctanreadme ~= "" and not match(lower(ctanreadme),"^readme$")
+      not match(lower(ctanreadme),"^readme%.%w+") then
       local newfile = "README." .. match(ctanreadme,"%.(%w+)$")
       for _,dir in pairs({ctandir .. "/" .. ctanpkg,
         tdsdir .. "/doc/" .. tdsroot .. "/" .. bundle}) do