diff --git a/src/core/platform.h b/src/core/platform.h
index 0b63701..e3eb14a 100644
--- a/src/core/platform.h
+++ b/src/core/platform.h
@@ -307,9 +307,16 @@
 #define ICONV_CONST_SOURCE          (IS_MINIX)
 #define SUPPORTS_DIRECT_IO          (IS_LINUX) 
 // Linux is the only platform where direct i/o hashing has been tested & works properly so far.
+
 #define SUPPORTS_TERMIOS            (!IS_RTEMS)
 // RTEMS errors are probably just a buildsys issue & this will change or go away.
 
+#define SUPPORTS_DOUBLE_SLASH_PATH  (IS_CYGWIN)
+// POSIX standard says paths beginning with 2 slashes are "implementation defined"
+// (see http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/009695399/basedefs/xbd_chap04.html#tag_04_11 )
+// The only platform OST works on (afaik) that actually defines a double-slash behavior is Cygwin
+// which uses this syntax for UNC paths.  So we'll allow leading double slashes there, but
+// continue removing them on all other platforms
 
 //=============================================================================
 // Miscellaneous
diff --git a/src/fco/fconame.cpp b/src/fco/fconame.cpp
index 7accdc7..bc5ecaa 100644
--- a/src/fco/fconame.cpp
+++ b/src/fco/fconame.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,12 @@ void cFCOName::ParseString( const TCHAR* pszin )
 
       TSTRING name(begin, at);      
 
-      if (name.length() > 0 || components == 0) 
+//NOTE: To be truly standards compliant we ought to turn >2 slashes into 1, not 2.
+#if SUPPORTS_DOUBLE_SLASH_PATH
+      if (name.length() > 0 || components < 2)
+#else 
+      if (name.length() > 0 || components == 0)
+#endif
       {
          cFCONameTblNode* pNode = 
             cFCOName_i::msNameTbl.CreateNode(name);