diff --git a/src/fileio.c b/src/fileio.c
index 0f3f148b9b..20c0294988 100644
--- a/src/fileio.c
+++ b/src/fileio.c
@@ -7547,7 +7547,8 @@ vim_tempname(extra_char, keep)
 
 #if defined(BACKSLASH_IN_FILENAME) || defined(PROTO)
 /*
- * Convert all backslashes in fname to forward slashes in-place.
+ * Convert all backslashes in fname to forward slashes in-place, unless when
+ * it looks like a URL.
  */
     void
 forward_slash(fname)
@@ -7555,6 +7556,8 @@ forward_slash(fname)
 {
     char_u	*p;
 
+    if (path_with_url(fname))
+	return;
     for (p = fname; *p != NUL; ++p)
 # ifdef  FEAT_MBYTE
 	/* The Big5 encoding can have '\' in the trail byte. */
diff --git a/src/os_mswin.c b/src/os_mswin.c
index b50b86c888..daf71a304d 100644
--- a/src/os_mswin.c
+++ b/src/os_mswin.c
@@ -481,11 +481,14 @@ mch_isFullName(char_u *fname)
  * commands that use a file name should try to avoid the need to type a
  * backslash twice.
  * When 'shellslash' set do it the other way around.
+ * When the path looks like a URL leave it unmodified.
  */
     void
 slash_adjust(p)
     char_u  *p;
 {
+    if (path_with_url(p))
+	return;
     while (*p)
     {
 	if (*p == psepcN)
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 746b62959b..83bfe2b08e 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -741,6 +741,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    896,
 /**/
     895,
 /**/