diff --git a/src/servo-gfx/util/url.rs b/src/servo-gfx/util/url.rs
index e59ce197b82..e12ad9761cf 100644
--- a/src/servo-gfx/util/url.rs
+++ b/src/servo-gfx/util/url.rs
@@ -20,9 +20,13 @@ pub fn make_url(str_url: ~str, current_url: Option<Url>) -> Url {
     let mut schm = url::get_scheme(str_url);
     let str_url = if result::is_err(&schm) {
         if current_url.is_none() {
-            // If all we have is a filename, assume it's a local relative file
-            // and build an absolute path with the cwd
-            ~"file://" + os::getcwd().push(str_url).to_str()
+            // Assume we've been given a file path. If it's absolute just return
+            // it, otherwise make it absolute with the cwd.
+            if str_url.starts_with("/") {
+                ~"file://" + str_url
+            } else {
+                ~"file://" + os::getcwd().push(str_url).to_str()
+            }
         } else {
             let current_url = current_url.get();
             debug!("make_url: current_url: %?", current_url);