diff --git a/t/t5580-unc-paths.sh b/t/t5580-unc-paths.sh
index 65ef1a3628ee94..2c30f3b51d3183 100755
--- a/t/t5580-unc-paths.sh
+++ b/t/t5580-unc-paths.sh
@@ -20,14 +20,11 @@ fi
 UNCPATH="$(winpwd)"
 case "$UNCPATH" in
 [A-Z]:*)
+	WITHOUTDRIVE="${UNCPATH#?:}"
 	# Use administrative share e.g. \\localhost\C$\git-sdk-64\usr\src\git
 	# (we use forward slashes here because MSYS2 and Git accept them, and
 	# they are easier on the eyes)
-	UNCPATH="//localhost/${UNCPATH%%:*}\$/${UNCPATH#?:}"
-	test -d "$UNCPATH" || {
-		skip_all='could not access administrative share; skipping'
-		test_done
-	}
+	UNCPATH="//localhost/${UNCPATH%%:*}\$$WITHOUTDRIVE"
 	;;
 *)
 	skip_all='skipping UNC path tests, cannot determine current path as UNC'
@@ -35,6 +32,18 @@ case "$UNCPATH" in
 	;;
 esac
 
+test_expect_failure 'clone into absolute path lacking a drive prefix' '
+	USINGBACKSLASHES="$(echo "$WITHOUTDRIVE"/without-drive-prefix |
+		tr / \\\\)" &&
+	git clone . "$USINGBACKSLASHES" &&
+	test -f without-drive-prefix/.git/HEAD
+'
+
+test -d "$UNCPATH" || {
+	skip_all='could not access administrative share; skipping'
+	test_done
+}
+
 test_expect_success setup '
 	test_commit initial
 '