diff --git a/read-cache.c b/read-cache.c
index 5be7cd1dbf50c8..be4e510c248572 100644
--- a/read-cache.c
+++ b/read-cache.c
@@ -821,9 +821,10 @@ int verify_path(const char *path)
 				return 0;
 			c = *path++;
 			if ((c == '.' && !verify_dotfile(path)) ||
-			    is_dir_sep(c) || c == '\0')
+			    is_dir_sep(c) || c == ':' || c == '\0')
 				return 0;
-		}
+		} else if (c == ':')
+			return 0;
 		c = *path++;
 	}
 }