diff --git a/AUTHORS.rst b/AUTHORS.rst
index dc645c3c6..a43a00f02 100644
--- a/AUTHORS.rst
+++ b/AUTHORS.rst
@@ -176,3 +176,4 @@ Contributors (chronological)
 - Peter C `@somethingnew2-0 <https://github.com/somethingnew2-0>`_
 - Marcel Jackwerth `@mrcljx` <https://github.com/mrcljx>`_
 - Fares Abubaker `@Fares-Abubaker <https://github.com/Fares-Abubaker>`_
+- Nicolas Simonds `@0xDEC0DE <https://github.com/0xDEC0DE>`_
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index 73ef21dd6..e0e92e489 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ Features:
   accept their internal value types as valid input (:issue:`1415`).
   Thanks :user:`bitdancer` for the suggestion.
 
+Bug Fixes:
+
+- ``URL`` fields now properly validate ``file`` paths.
+
 Other changes:
 
 - Typing: `Field <marshmallow.fields.Field>` is now a generic type with a type argument for the internal value type.
diff --git a/src/marshmallow/validate.py b/src/marshmallow/validate.py
index 23e14019e..8a880aaf0 100644
--- a/src/marshmallow/validate.py
+++ b/src/marshmallow/validate.py
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ def __call__(self, value: str) -> str:
             raise ValidationError(message)
 
         # Check first if the scheme is valid
+        scheme = None
         if "://" in value:
             scheme = value.split("://")[0].lower()
             if scheme not in self.schemes:
@@ -212,7 +213,15 @@ def __call__(self, value: str) -> str:
             relative=self.relative, absolute=self.absolute, require_tld=self.require_tld
         )
 
-        if not regex.search(value):
+        # The `file` scheme is a slightly-special case: hostnames are optional,
+        # and if absent it means `localhost`; fill it in for the validation if
+        # needed
+        if scheme == "file" and value.startswith("file:///"):
+            matched = regex.search(value.replace("file:///", "file://localhost/", 1))
+        else:
+            matched = regex.search(value)
+
+        if not matched:
             raise ValidationError(message)
 
         return value
diff --git a/tests/test_validate.py b/tests/test_validate.py
index 866276de6..d6d8ce919 100644
--- a/tests/test_validate.py
+++ b/tests/test_validate.py
@@ -205,6 +205,13 @@ def test_url_custom_scheme():
     assert validator(url) == url
 
 
+def test_url_file_scheme():
+    # Ensure that file URLs don't get confused
+    url = "file:///tmp/tmp1234"
+    validator = validate.URL(schemes={"file"})
+    assert validator(url) == url
+
+
 def test_url_relative_and_custom_schemes():
     validator = validate.URL(relative=True)
     # By default, ws not allowed