diff --git a/tests/test_load_video_frames.py b/tests/test_load_video_frames.py
index 08a46747..91a29392 100644
--- a/tests/test_load_video_frames.py
+++ b/tests/test_load_video_frames.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+from pathlib import Path
 import pytest
 import shutil
 import subprocess
@@ -583,3 +584,14 @@ def test_caching(tmp_path, caplog, train_metadata):
     ).__getitem__(index=0)[0]
 
     assert np.array_equal(no_config, config_with_nones)
+
+
+def test_validate_video_cache_dir():
+    with mock.patch.dict(os.environ, {"VIDEO_CACHE_DIR": "example_cache_dir"}):
+        config = VideoLoaderConfig()
+        assert config.cache_dir == Path("example_cache_dir")
+
+    for cache in ["", 0]:
+        with mock.patch.dict(os.environ, {"VIDEO_CACHE_DIR": str(cache)}):
+            config = VideoLoaderConfig()
+            assert config.cache_dir is None
diff --git a/zamba/data/video.py b/zamba/data/video.py
index c73f7a0e..813e435c 100644
--- a/zamba/data/video.py
+++ b/zamba/data/video.py
@@ -220,6 +220,9 @@ def validate_video_cache_dir(cls, cache_dir):
         if cache_dir is None:
             cache_dir = os.getenv("VIDEO_CACHE_DIR", None)
 
+            if cache_dir in ["", "0"]:
+                cache_dir = None
+
         if cache_dir is not None:
             cache_dir = Path(cache_dir)
             cache_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)