diff --git a/ethutil/common.go b/ethutil/common.go
index 6d88a1ed2a..2fd031a20a 100644
--- a/ethutil/common.go
+++ b/ethutil/common.go
@@ -3,8 +3,20 @@ package ethutil
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
+	"runtime"
 )
 
+func IsWindows() bool {
+	return runtime.GOOS == "windows"
+}
+
+func WindonizePath(path string) string {
+	if string(path[0]) == "/" && IsWindows() {
+		path = path[1:]
+	}
+	return path
+}
+
 // The different number of units
 var (
 	Douglas  = BigPow(10, 42)