diff --git a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerlink.lua b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerlink.lua
index 26378f3b1..19940fea8 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerlink.lua
+++ b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerlink.lua
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ function ReaderLink:onGotoLink(link, neglect_current_location, allow_footnote_po
     end
 
     -- Check if it is a link to a local file
-    local linked_filename = link_url:gsub("^file:", "") -- remove local file protocol if any
+    local linked_filename = link_url:gsub("^file:(//)?", "") -- remove local file protocol if any
     local anchor
     if linked_filename:find("?") then -- remove any query string (including any following anchor)
         linked_filename, anchor = linked_filename:match("^(.-)(%?.*)$")