Index: common.inc
===================================================================
--- common.inc  (revision 1273)
+++ common.inc  (working copy)
@@ -1189,8 +1189,10 @@
   $base = ($absolute ? $base_url . '/' : base_path());

   // The special path '<front>' links to the default front page.
-  if (!empty($path) && $path != '<front>') {
-    $path = drupal_get_path_alias($path);
+  if ($path == '<front>')
+   unset($path);
+  $path = drupal_get_path_alias($path);
+  if (!empty($path)) {
     $path = drupal_urlencode($path);
     if (!$clean_url) {
       if (isset($query)) {