diff --git a/lib/path.js b/lib/path.js
index 0853197678abdc..dc8a33f4996e5f 100644
--- a/lib/path.js
+++ b/lib/path.js
@@ -767,7 +767,9 @@ const win32 = {
         }
       }
     } else if (code === 47/*/*/ || code === 92/*\*/) {
-      return path[0];
+      // `path` contains just a path separator, exit early to avoid
+      // unnecessary work
+      return path;
     }
 
     for (var i = len - 1; i >= offset; --i) {
@@ -1031,7 +1033,7 @@ const win32 = {
               if (len === 3) {
                 // `path` contains just a drive root, exit early to avoid
                 // unnecessary work
-                ret.root = ret.dir = path.slice(0, 3);
+                ret.root = ret.dir = path;
                 return ret;
               }
               rootEnd = 3;
@@ -1039,7 +1041,7 @@ const win32 = {
           } else {
             // `path` contains just a drive root, exit early to avoid
             // unnecessary work
-            ret.root = ret.dir = path.slice(0, 2);
+            ret.root = ret.dir = path;
             return ret;
           }
         }
@@ -1047,7 +1049,7 @@ const win32 = {
     } else if (code === 47/*/*/ || code === 92/*\*/) {
       // `path` contains just a path separator, exit early to avoid
       // unnecessary work
-      ret.root = ret.dir = path[0];
+      ret.root = ret.dir = path;
       return ret;
     }