diff --git a/winsup/cygwin/path.cc b/winsup/cygwin/path.cc
index c13701aa0..2fbacd881 100644
--- a/winsup/cygwin/path.cc
+++ b/winsup/cygwin/path.cc
@@ -1168,19 +1168,6 @@ path_conv::check (const char *src, unsigned opt,
 
       if (dev.isfs ())
 	{
-	  if (strncmp (path, "\\\\.\\", 4))
-	    {
-	      if (!tail || tail == path)
-		/* nothing */;
-	      else if (tail[-1] != '\\')
-		*tail = '\0';
-	      else
-		{
-		  error = ENOENT;
-		  return;
-		}
-	    }
-
 	  /* If FS hasn't been checked already in symlink_info::check,
 	     do so now. */
 	  if (fs.inited ()|| fs.update (get_nt_native_path (), NULL))