diff --git a/dlls/kernel32/path.c b/dlls/kernel32/path.c
index ddd169ca6f7..b53ebdb9267 100644
--- a/dlls/kernel32/path.c
+++ b/dlls/kernel32/path.c
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ DWORD WINAPI GetLongPathNameW( LPCWSTR shortpath, LPWSTR longpath, DWORD longlen
     LPCWSTR             p;
     DWORD               sp = 0, lp = 0;
     DWORD               tmplen;
-    BOOL                unixabsolute = (shortpath[0] == '/');
+    BOOL                unixabsolute;
     WIN32_FIND_DATAW    wfd;
     HANDLE              goit;
 
@@ -318,6 +318,8 @@ DWORD WINAPI GetLongPathNameW( LPCWSTR shortpath, LPWSTR longpath, DWORD longlen
         return strlenW(longpath);
     }
 
+    unixabsolute = (shortpath[0] == '/');
+
     /* check for drive letter */
     if (!unixabsolute && shortpath[1] == ':' )
     {