diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/command_line_interface.cc b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/command_line_interface.cc
index 842a17072d..8005677456 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/command_line_interface.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/command_line_interface.cc
@@ -168,7 +168,8 @@ bool VerifyDirectoryExists(const string& path) {
 // directories listed in |filename|.
 bool TryCreateParentDirectory(const string& prefix, const string& filename) {
   // Recursively create parent directories to the output file.
-  std::vector<string> parts = Split(filename, "/", true);
+  // On Windows, both '/' and '\' are valid path separators.
+  std::vector<string> parts = Split(filename, "/\\", true);
   string path_so_far = prefix;
   for (int i = 0; i < parts.size() - 1; i++) {
     path_so_far += parts[i];