diff --git a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_posix_NamedPipe.cpp b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_posix_NamedPipe.cpp
index c97f8815f3..d0c0b09af7 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_posix_NamedPipe.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_posix_NamedPipe.cpp
@@ -194,7 +194,12 @@ bool NamedPipe::openInternal (const String& pipeName, const bool createPipe)
     pimpl = new Pimpl (File::getSpecialLocation (File::tempDirectory)
                          .getChildFile (File::createLegalFileName (pipeName)).getFullPathName(), createPipe);
    #else
-    pimpl = new Pimpl ("/tmp/" + File::createLegalFileName (pipeName), createPipe);
+    String file (pipeName);
+
+    if (! File::isAbsolutePath (file))
+        file = "/tmp/" + File::createLegalFileName (file);
+
+    pimpl = new Pimpl (file, createPipe);
    #endif
 
     if (createPipe && ! pimpl->createFifos())