diff --git a/salt/modules/win_path.py b/salt/modules/win_path.py
index ce54f97ebc32..1da944b222db 100644
--- a/salt/modules/win_path.py
+++ b/salt/modules/win_path.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 # Import Python libs
 import logging
 import os
-import re
 
 # Import Salt libs
 import salt.utils.args
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ def _normalize_dir(string_):
     '''
     Normalize the directory to make comparison possible
     '''
-    return re.sub(r'\\$', '', salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(string_))
+    return os.path.normpath(salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(string_))
 
 
 def rehash():
@@ -200,7 +199,7 @@ def _check_path(dirs, path, index):
             elif index <= -num_dirs:
                 # Negative index is too large, shift index to beginning of list
                 index = pos = 0
-            elif index <= 0:
+            elif index < 0:
                 # Negative indexes (other than -1 which is handled above) must
                 # be inserted at index + 1 for the item  to end up in the
                 # position you want, since list.insert() inserts before the
diff --git a/salt/states/win_path.py b/salt/states/win_path.py
index af956d59b89c..5b91de303def 100644
--- a/salt/states/win_path.py
+++ b/salt/states/win_path.py
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 '''
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 
-# Import Salt libs
-import salt.utils.stringutils
+# Import Python libs
+import os
 
-# Import 3rd-party libs
+# Import Salt libs
 from salt.ext import six
+import salt.utils.stringutils
 
 
 def __virtual__():
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ def exists(name, index=None):
             - index: -1
     '''
     try:
-        name = salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(name)
+        name = os.path.normpath(salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(name))
     except TypeError:
         name = six.text_type(name)
 
@@ -223,7 +224,7 @@ def _changes(old, new):
             '{0} {1} to the PATH{2}.'.format(
                 'Added' if ret['result'] else 'Failed to add',
                 name,
-                ' at index {0}'.format(index) if index else ''
+                ' at index {0}'.format(index) if index is not None else ''
             )
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/modules/test_win_path.py b/tests/unit/modules/test_win_path.py
index 891a13149797..a21875ab1789 100644
--- a/tests/unit/modules/test_win_path.py
+++ b/tests/unit/modules/test_win_path.py
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ def _run(name, index=None, retval=True, path=None):
         self.assert_call_matches(mock_set, new_path)
         self.assert_path_matches(env, new_path)
 
+        # Test adding with a custom index of 0
+        ret, env, mock_set = _run('c:\\salt', index=0, retval=True)
+        new_path = ('c:\\salt', 'C:\\Foo', 'C:\\Bar')
+        self.assertTrue(ret)
+        self.assert_call_matches(mock_set, new_path)
+        self.assert_path_matches(env, new_path)
+
         # Test adding path with a case-insensitive match already present, and
         # no index provided. The path should remain unchanged and we should not
         # update the registry.