diff --git a/src/harvesters/core.py b/src/harvesters/core.py
index 2643caa..c36ee4b 100644
--- a/src/harvesters/core.py
+++ b/src/harvesters/core.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
 # Local application/library specific imports
 from harvesters._private.core.port import ConcretePort
 from harvesters._private.core.statistics import Statistics
+from harvesters._private.core.helper.system import is_running_on_windows
 from harvesters.util.logging import get_logger
 from harvesters.util.pfnc import dict_by_names, dict_by_ints
 from harvesters.util.pfnc import Dictionary, _PixelFormat
@@ -1889,6 +1890,8 @@ def _retrieve_file_path(
 
             elif location == 'file':
                 file_path_to_load = urlparse(url).path
+                if is_running_on_windows():
+                    file_path_to_load = re.sub(r'^/+', '', file_path_to_load)
 
             elif location == 'http' or location == 'https':
                 raise NotImplementedError(
diff --git a/src/harvesters/test/test_harvester_core.py b/src/harvesters/test/test_harvester_core.py
index ed7e5a7..43f4480 100644
--- a/src/harvesters/test/test_harvester_core.py
+++ b/src/harvesters/test/test_harvester_core.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 # Local application/library specific imports
+from harvesters._private.core.helper.system import is_running_on_windows
 from harvesters.test.base_harvester import TestHarvester, \
     TestHarvesterNoCleanUp
 from harvesters.test.base_harvester import get_cti_file_path
@@ -1045,6 +1046,16 @@ def test_issue_207(self):
         )
         self.assertEqual(data, result)
 
+    def test_issue_277(self):
+        if not is_running_on_windows():
+            return
+
+        prefix = 'file:///'
+        path = 'C:/ProgramData/GenICam/xml/cache/Optronis_Cyclone_V1_7_8.xml'
+        url = prefix + path
+        result = ImageAcquirer._retrieve_file_path(url=url)
+        self.assertEqual(path, result)
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()