diff --git a/homeassistant/util/__init__.py b/homeassistant/util/__init__.py
index db1bbaa9993..d3178cb5ddd 100644
--- a/homeassistant/util/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/util/__init__.py
@@ -33,13 +33,33 @@ RE_SANITIZE_PATH = re.compile(r"(~|\.(\.)+)")
 
 
 def sanitize_filename(filename: str) -> str:
-    r"""Sanitize a filename by removing .. / and \\."""
-    return RE_SANITIZE_FILENAME.sub("", filename)
+    """Check if a filename is safe.
+
+    Only to be used to compare to original filename to check if changed.
+    If result changed, the given path is not safe and should not be used,
+    raise an error.
+
+    DEPRECATED.
+    """
+    # Backwards compatible fix for misuse of method
+    if RE_SANITIZE_FILENAME.sub("", filename) != filename:
+        return ""
+    return filename
 
 
 def sanitize_path(path: str) -> str:
-    """Sanitize a path by removing ~ and .."""
-    return RE_SANITIZE_PATH.sub("", path)
+    """Check if a path is safe.
+
+    Only to be used to compare to original path to check if changed.
+    If result changed, the given path is not safe and should not be used,
+    raise an error.
+
+    DEPRECATED.
+    """
+    # Backwards compatible fix for misuse of method
+    if RE_SANITIZE_PATH.sub("", path) != path:
+        return ""
+    return path
 
 
 def slugify(text: str, *, separator: str = "_") -> str:
diff --git a/tests/util/test_init.py b/tests/util/test_init.py
index 2ffca07082b..8ba034b79da 100644
--- a/tests/util/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/util/test_init.py
@@ -11,17 +11,17 @@ import homeassistant.util.dt as dt_util
 def test_sanitize_filename():
     """Test sanitize_filename."""
     assert util.sanitize_filename("test") == "test"
-    assert util.sanitize_filename("/test") == "test"
-    assert util.sanitize_filename("..test") == "test"
-    assert util.sanitize_filename("\\test") == "test"
-    assert util.sanitize_filename("\\../test") == "test"
+    assert util.sanitize_filename("/test") == ""
+    assert util.sanitize_filename("..test") == ""
+    assert util.sanitize_filename("\\test") == ""
+    assert util.sanitize_filename("\\../test") == ""
 
 
 def test_sanitize_path():
     """Test sanitize_path."""
     assert util.sanitize_path("test/path") == "test/path"
-    assert util.sanitize_path("~test/path") == "test/path"
-    assert util.sanitize_path("~/../test/path") == "//test/path"
+    assert util.sanitize_path("~test/path") == ""
+    assert util.sanitize_path("~/../test/path") == ""
 
 
 def test_slugify():