*  Michael Albinus <michael.albinus@gmx.de> <87y10qv9y1.fsf@gmx.de>
Wrote on Sun, 08 Dec 2024 09:46:30 +0100
>
> unhandled-file-name-directory expects, that special constructs in
> FILENAME are handled via a file name handler. Per default,
> "https://www.gnu.org/" is not covered by a file name handler, so I
> believe it is a non-valid value for default-directory.
>
> See
>
> --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
> (progn
>   (url-handler-mode)
>   (let ((default-directory "https://www.gnu.org/"))
>     (unhandled-file-name-directory default-directory)))
> => nil
> --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---
>
> Whether nil is a proper value to be returned is questionable. However,
> call-process and friends are able to handle a nil default-directory.

Thanks, something like the attached? the implementation of "turn on
url-handler-mode temporarily" looks a bit gross but i guess it can't
be avoided.  should call to turn it on be outside the
minibuffer-setup-hook? --Regards, Madhu