diff --git a/lisp/ange-ftp.el b/lisp/ange-ftp.el
index 5c3eb4efd7f..6edea2c3aa5 100644
--- a/lisp/ange-ftp.el
+++ b/lisp/ange-ftp.el
@@ -3047,6 +3047,9 @@ logged in as user USER and cd'd to directory DIR."
 	   (ange-ftp-real-expand-file-name name))
 	  ((eq (string-to-char name) ?/)
 	   (ange-ftp-canonize-filename name))
+	  ((and (eq system-type 'windows-nt)
+		(eq (string-to-char name) ?\\))
+	   (ange-ftp-canonize-filename name))
 	  ((and (eq system-type 'windows-nt)
 		(or (string-match "^[a-zA-Z]:" name)
 		    (string-match "^[a-zA-Z]:" default)))