fat fs f_findfirst question

Question

So, trying to use the f_findfirst() function in fat_fs by elmChaN. Using R0.11a. I have everything configured for long file names. The one kicker is that after f_findfirst has ran the first character in longFileName[0] is '\0' (as in NULL character). If following my pattern that I gave it correctly it should be 'F'. I've been banging my head against a wall all night over this. Anyone have a clue why this is happening?

SAMPLE CODE:

uint8_t findFirmwareFile(uint8_t driveToMount)
{
    FRESULT result;
    UINT    n_bytes;
    DIR     directorySearchObject;
    FILINFO fileInformation;
    #if _USE_LFN
        char longFileName[_MAX_LFN];
        fileInformation.lfname = longFileName;
        fileInformation.lfsize = sizeof(longFileName);
    #endif
    
    char fnPattern[36];
    sprintf (fnPattern, "%s", FIRMWARE_FILE_NAME_PATTERN);
    
    int versionNumber = -1;
    char msg[128];

    test_drive[0]     = driveToMount + '0';
    
    sprintf(msg, "TIME (ms): %010d || ---->RUNNING FAT FILE SYSTEM.\r\n", getTime());
        UARTWrite(msg);
    
        memset(&fileSystem, 0, sizeof(FATFS));
    
        sprintf(msg, "TIME (ms): %010d || ---->MOUNTING FILE SYSTEM.\r\n", getTime());
        UARTWrite(msg);
    
        result = f_mount(&fileSystem, "0:", 1);
        if (FR_INVALID_DRIVE == result || FR_NOT_READY == result)
        {
            return FATFS_SKIP;
        }   
        
        sprintf(msg, "TIME (ms): %010d || ---->LOOKING FOR FIRMWARE FILES. PATTERN: %s\r\n", getTime(), FIRMWARE_FILE_NAME_PATTERN);
        UARTWrite(msg);
        
        result = f_findfirst(&directorySearchObject, &fileInformation, "", fnPattern);
        
        if (result == FR_OK)
        {
            while (result == FR_OK && longFileName[0])
            {
            #if _USE_LFN
                sprintf(msg, "TIME (ms): %010d || ---->FILE FOUND --> SHORT NAME: %-12s || LONG NAME: %s\r\n", getTime(), fileInformation.fname, fileInformation.lfname);
                UARTWrite(msg);
                char tempNUMBERstr[15];
                int temVersionNum;
                int tempSTRtrace = 0;
                for(int i = 8; i < 27; i++)
                {
                    if (fileInformation.lfname[i] == '.' )
                    {
                        //DO NOTHING
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        tempNUMBERstr[tempSTRtrace] = fileInformation.lfname[i];
                        tempSTRtrace++;
                    }
                }
                
                temVersionNum = atoi(tempNUMBERstr);
                
                if(versionNumber <= temVersionNum)
                {
                    versionNumber = temVersionNum;
                }
                else
                {
                    sprintf(msg, "TIME (ms): %010d || ---->LATEST FIRMWARE FILE FOUND --> NAME: %s", getTime(), fileInformation.lfname);
                    UARTWrite(msg);
                }
            #else
                sprintf(msg, "TIME (ms): %010d || ---->FILE FOUND --> SHORT NAME: %-12s", getTime(), fileInformation.fname);
                UARTWrite(msg);
            #endif
                
                result = f_findnext(&directorySearchObject, &fileInformation);  
            
            }
        }
        
    return FATFS_OK;
}