diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 1329c30e6a..2e140f57c7 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1795,9 +1795,8 @@ char *qemu_find_file(int type, const char *name)
     const char *subdir;
     char *buf;
 
-    /* If name contains path separators then try it as a straight path.  */
-    if ((strchr(name, '/') || strchr(name, '\\'))
-        && access(name, R_OK) == 0) {
+    /* Try the name as a straight path first */
+    if (access(name, R_OK) == 0) {
         return g_strdup(name);
     }
     switch (type) {