diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelper2.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelper2.java
index f471a36e6..3965143bc 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelper2.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelper2.java
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ public class ProjectHelper2 extends ProjectHelper {
 
         if (source instanceof File) {
             buildFile = (File) source;
-            buildFile = new File(buildFile.getAbsolutePath());
+            buildFile = fu.normalize(buildFile.getAbsolutePath());
             context.setBuildFile(buildFile);
             buildFileName = buildFile.toString();
 //         } else if (source instanceof InputStream ) {