diff --git a/includes/file.inc b/includes/file.inc
index bfddf2d..b6e4880 100644
--- a/includes/file.inc
+++ b/includes/file.inc
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ define('FILE_STATUS_PERMANENT', 1);
  */
 function file_create_url($path) {
   // Clean up Windows paths.
-  $old_path = $path = str_replace('\\', '/', $path);
+  $old_path = $path = file_directory_strip($path);
 
   drupal_alter('file_url', $path);