diff --git a/tools/mpremote/mpremote/transport_serial.py b/tools/mpremote/mpremote/transport_serial.py
index 3b4cd0007..a97b7e0a0 100644
--- a/tools/mpremote/mpremote/transport_serial.py
+++ b/tools/mpremote/mpremote/transport_serial.py
@@ -838,6 +838,9 @@ class RemoteFS:
     def __init__(self, cmd):
         self.cmd = cmd
 
+    def _abspath(self, path):
+        return path if path.startswith("/") else self.path + path
+
     def mount(self, readonly, mkfs):
         pass
 
@@ -859,7 +862,7 @@ class RemoteFS:
     def remove(self, path):
         c = self.cmd
         c.begin(CMD_REMOVE)
-        c.wr_str(self.path + path)
+        c.wr_str(self._abspath(path))
         res = c.rd_s32()
         c.end()
         if res < 0:
@@ -868,8 +871,8 @@ class RemoteFS:
     def rename(self, old, new):
         c = self.cmd
         c.begin(CMD_RENAME)
-        c.wr_str(self.path + old)
-        c.wr_str(self.path + new)
+        c.wr_str(self._abspath(old))
+        c.wr_str(self._abspath(new))
         res = c.rd_s32()
         c.end()
         if res < 0:
@@ -878,7 +881,7 @@ class RemoteFS:
     def mkdir(self, path):
         c = self.cmd
         c.begin(CMD_MKDIR)
-        c.wr_str(self.path + path)
+        c.wr_str(self._abspath(path))
         res = c.rd_s32()
         c.end()
         if res < 0:
@@ -887,7 +890,7 @@ class RemoteFS:
     def rmdir(self, path):
         c = self.cmd
         c.begin(CMD_RMDIR)
-        c.wr_str(self.path + path)
+        c.wr_str(self._abspath(path))
         res = c.rd_s32()
         c.end()
         if res < 0:
@@ -896,7 +899,7 @@ class RemoteFS:
     def stat(self, path):
         c = self.cmd
         c.begin(CMD_STAT)
-        c.wr_str(self.path + path)
+        c.wr_str(self._abspath(path))
         res = c.rd_s8()
         if res < 0:
             c.end()
@@ -912,7 +915,7 @@ class RemoteFS:
     def ilistdir(self, path):
         c = self.cmd
         c.begin(CMD_ILISTDIR_START)
-        c.wr_str(self.path + path)
+        c.wr_str(self._abspath(path))
         res = c.rd_s8()
         c.end()
         if res < 0:
@@ -933,7 +936,7 @@ class RemoteFS:
     def open(self, path, mode):
         c = self.cmd
         c.begin(CMD_OPEN)
-        c.wr_str(self.path + path)
+        c.wr_str(self._abspath(path))
         c.wr_str(mode)
         fd = c.rd_s8()
         c.end()