diff --git a/vlib/os/os.v b/vlib/os/os.v
index f307a37031..21e2035855 100644
--- a/vlib/os/os.v
+++ b/vlib/os/os.v
@@ -869,9 +869,11 @@ pub fn realpath(fpath string) string {
 	mut fullpath := calloc( MAX_PATH )
 	mut res := 0
 	$if windows {
-	// here we want an int==0 if _fullpath failed , in which case
-	// it would return NULL, and !isnil(NULL) would be false==0
-		res = int( !isnil(C._fullpath( fullpath, fpath.str, MAX_PATH )) )
+		ret := C._fullpath(fpath.str, fullpath)
+		if ret == 0 {
+			return fpath
+		}	
+		return string(fullpath)
 	}
 	$else{
 		ret := C.realpath(fpath.str, fullpath)
@@ -880,9 +882,6 @@ pub fn realpath(fpath string) string {
 		}	
 		return string(fullpath)
 	}
-	if res != 0 {
-		return string(fullpath, vstrlen(fullpath))
-	}
 	return fpath
 }