diff --git a/internal/core/util.go b/internal/core/util.go
index 1ef4ce61..e497a8f2 100755
--- a/internal/core/util.go
+++ b/internal/core/util.go
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ func normalizePath(path string) string {
 	}
 	if path == "~" {
 		return homedir
-	} else if strings.HasPrefix(path, "~/") {
+	} else if strings.HasPrefix(path, filepath.FromSlash("~/")) {
 		path = filepath.Join(homedir, path[2:])
 	}
 	return path
diff --git a/internal/core/util_test.go b/internal/core/util_test.go
index ca1169f5..1da71e9e 100755
--- a/internal/core/util_test.go
+++ b/internal/core/util_test.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func TestNormalizePath(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Log("os.UserHomeDir failed, will not proceed with tests")
 		return
 	}
-	stylesPathInput := "~/.vale"
+	stylesPathInput := filepath.FromSlash("~/.vale")
 	expectedOutput := filepath.Join(homedir, ".vale")
 	result := normalizePath(stylesPathInput)
 	if result != expectedOutput {