diff --git a/tests/test_naming.py b/tests/test_naming.py
index 00f9266..1ede37a 100644
--- a/tests/test_naming.py
+++ b/tests/test_naming.py
@@ -46,3 +46,16 @@ def test_series_level_kept_when_set():
     r.narrator = "Rufus Beck"
     assert render_template("{Author}/{Series}/{Title} ({Narrator})", r) == \
         "J.K. Rowling/Harry Potter/Harry Potter und der Feuerkelch (Rufus Beck)"
+
+
+def test_missing_values_do_not_leave_dangling_separators():
+    """A "{Series}/{Volume} - {Title}" library still has standalone titles."""
+    req = SimpleNamespace(title="Ein Einzeltitel", authors="Jemand", series="",
+                          volume=None, year=None, narrator="")
+    assert render_template("{Series}/{Volume} - {Title}", req) == "Ein Einzeltitel"
+    assert render_template("{Volume} - {Title} ({Year})", req) == "Ein Einzeltitel"
+
+    numbered = SimpleNamespace(title="Die Höllenbrut", authors="A. F. Morland",
+                               series="Tony Ballard", volume=1, year=2020, narrator="")
+    assert render_template("{Series}/{Volume} - {Title}", numbered) == \
+        "Tony Ballard/01 - Die Höllenbrut"
diff --git a/wordarr/naming.py b/wordarr/naming.py
index 805f6d1..50bc3b0 100644
--- a/wordarr/naming.py
+++ b/wordarr/naming.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ def render_template(template: str, request) -> str:
             seg = seg.replace("{" + key + "}", val)
         # drop empty parenthesized/dangling bits from missing values, e.g. "Title ()"
         seg = re.sub(r"\(\s*\)", "", seg)
-        seg = re.sub(r"(-|–)\s*$", "", seg).strip()
+        seg = re.sub(r"(-|–)\s*$", "", seg)
+        seg = re.sub(r"^\s*(-|–|·)\s*", "", seg).strip()
         if not seg:
             continue  # drop path levels that are empty (e.g. {Series} without a series)
         segments.append(sanitize(seg))