diff --git a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_Files_windows.cpp b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_Files_windows.cpp
index e88d246713..bbfe611c29 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_Files_windows.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_Files_windows.cpp
@@ -911,7 +911,9 @@ static String readWindowsShortcutOrLink (const File& shortcut, bool wantsAbsolut
     if (! wantsAbsolutePath)
         return readWindowsLnkFile (shortcut, false);
 
-    auto* h = CreateFile (shortcut.getFullPathName().toWideCharPointer(),
+    static constexpr const char* prefix = R"(\\?\)";
+
+    auto* h = CreateFile ((prefix + shortcut.getFullPathName()).toWideCharPointer(),
                           GENERIC_READ, FILE_SHARE_READ, nullptr,
                           OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_FLAG_BACKUP_SEMANTICS, nullptr);
 
@@ -939,8 +941,6 @@ static String readWindowsShortcutOrLink (const File& shortcut, bool wantsAbsolut
         return buffer.data();
     }();
 
-    static constexpr const char* prefix ("\\\\?\\");
-
     // It turns out that GetFinalPathNameByHandleW prepends \\?\ to the path.
     // This is not a bug, it's a feature. See MSDN for more information.
     if (path.isNotEmpty())