diff --git a/Lib/pathlib.py b/Lib/pathlib.py
index 5fb3eaf02c9..031c36ab751 100644
--- a/Lib/pathlib.py
+++ b/Lib/pathlib.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from urllib.parse import quote_from_bytes as urlquote_from_bytes
 
 if os.name == 'nt':
     import nt
-    from nt import _getfinalpathname
+    from nt import _getfinalpathname, _getfullpathname
 else:
     nt = None
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class _WindowsFlavour(_Flavour):
             return os.getcwd()
         if strict:
             return self._ext_to_normal(_getfinalpathname(s))
-        s = path = os.path.abspath(s)
+        s = path = _getfullpathname(s)
         previous_s = None
         tail_parts = []  # End of the path after the first one not found
         while True:
@@ -201,7 +201,8 @@ class _WindowsFlavour(_Flavour):
                 previous_s = s
                 s, tail = os.path.split(s)
                 tail_parts.append(tail)
-                if previous_s == s:  # Root reached, fallback to abspath()
+                if previous_s == s:
+                    # Root reached, fallback to _getfullpathname()
                     return path
             else:
                 return os.path.join(s, *reversed(tail_parts))