diff --git a/ibis/backends/base/__init__.py b/ibis/backends/base/__init__.py
index f5419eaea469..3235c2636547 100644
--- a/ibis/backends/base/__init__.py
+++ b/ibis/backends/base/__init__.py
@@ -1433,9 +1433,14 @@ def _from_url(self, url: str, **kwargs) -> BaseBackend:
         url = urlparse(url)
         netloc = url.netloc
         parts = list(filter(None, (netloc, url.path[bool(netloc) :])))
-        database = (
-            Path(*parts).absolute() if parts and parts != [":memory:"] else ":memory:"
-        )
+        database = Path(*parts) if parts and parts != [":memory:"] else ":memory:"
+        if (strdatabase := str(database)).startswith("md:") or strdatabase.startswith(
+            "motherduck:"
+        ):
+            database = strdatabase
+        elif isinstance(database, Path):
+            database = database.absolute()
+
         query_params = parse_qs(url.query)
 
         for name, value in query_params.items():