diff --git a/hgext3rd/sparse.py b/hgext3rd/sparse.py
--- a/hgext3rd/sparse.py
+++ b/hgext3rd/sparse.py
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@
                 newexclude = set(oldexclude)
                 newprofiles = set(oldprofiles)
 
-            if any(pat.startswith('/') for pat in pats):
+            if any(os.path.isabs(pat) for pat in pats):
                 err = _('paths cannot start with /')
                 hint = _('do not use absolute paths')
                 raise error.Abort(err, hint=hint)