diff --git a/compose/config/config.py b/compose/config/config.py
index 0444ba3a..9e9cb857 100644
--- a/compose/config/config.py
+++ b/compose/config/config.py
@@ -526,12 +526,13 @@ def path_mappings_from_dict(d):
     return [join_path_mapping(v) for v in d.items()]
 
 
-def split_path_mapping(string):
-    if ':' in string:
-        (host, container) = string.split(':', 1)
-        return (container, host)
+def split_path_mapping(volume_path):
+    drive, volume_config = os.path.splitdrive(volume_path)
+    if ':' in volume_config:
+        (host, container) = volume_config.split(':', 1)
+        return (container, drive + host)
     else:
-        return (string, None)
+        return (volume_path, None)
 
 
 def join_path_mapping(pair):
diff --git a/compose/const.py b/compose/const.py
index b43e655b..b04b7e7e 100644
--- a/compose/const.py
+++ b/compose/const.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 
 DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 10
+IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM = (sys.platform == "win32")
 LABEL_CONTAINER_NUMBER = 'com.docker.compose.container-number'
 LABEL_ONE_OFF = 'com.docker.compose.oneoff'
 LABEL_PROJECT = 'com.docker.compose.project'
diff --git a/compose/service.py b/compose/service.py
index 960d3936..4df10fbb 100644
--- a/compose/service.py
+++ b/compose/service.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from .config import DOCKER_CONFIG_KEYS
 from .config import merge_environment
 from .config.validation import VALID_NAME_CHARS
 from .const import DEFAULT_TIMEOUT
+from .const import IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM
 from .const import LABEL_CONFIG_HASH
 from .const import LABEL_CONTAINER_NUMBER
 from .const import LABEL_ONE_OFF
@@ -937,7 +938,20 @@ def build_volume_binding(volume_spec):
 
 
 def parse_volume_spec(volume_config):
+    """
+    A volume_config string, which is a path, split it into external:internal[:mode]
+    parts to be returned as a valid VolumeSpec tuple.
+    """
     parts = volume_config.split(':')
+
+    if IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM:
+        # relative paths in windows expand to include the drive, eg C:\
+        # so we join the first 2 parts back together to count as one
+        drive, volume_path = os.path.splitdrive(volume_config)
+        windows_parts = volume_path.split(":")
+        windows_parts[0] = os.path.join(drive, windows_parts[0])
+        parts = windows_parts
+
     if len(parts) > 3:
         raise ConfigError("Volume %s has incorrect format, should be "
                           "external:internal[:mode]" % volume_config)
diff --git a/tests/unit/config/config_test.py b/tests/unit/config/config_test.py
index 3269cdff..cf299738 100644
--- a/tests/unit/config/config_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/config/config_test.py
@@ -1124,6 +1124,21 @@ class ExpandPathTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(result, user_path + 'otherdir/somefile')
 
 
+class VolumePathTest(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    @pytest.mark.xfail((not IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM), reason='does not have a drive')
+    def test_split_path_mapping_with_windows_path(self):
+        windows_volume_path = "c:\\Users\\msamblanet\\Documents\\anvil\\connect\\config:/opt/connect/config:ro"
+        expected_mapping = (
+            "/opt/connect/config:ro",
+            "c:\\Users\\msamblanet\\Documents\\anvil\\connect\\config"
+        )
+
+        mapping = config.split_path_mapping(windows_volume_path)
+
+        self.assertEqual(mapping, expected_mapping)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.xfail(IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM, reason='paths use slash')
 class BuildPathTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/tests/unit/service_test.py b/tests/unit/service_test.py
index a1c195ac..b0cee1ee 100644
--- a/tests/unit/service_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/service_test.py
@@ -466,6 +466,21 @@ class ServiceVolumesTest(unittest.TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(ConfigError):
             parse_volume_spec('one:two:three:four')
 
+    @pytest.mark.xfail((not IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM), reason='does not have a drive')
+    def test_parse_volume_windows_relative_path(self):
+        windows_relative_path = "c:\\Users\\msamblanet\\Documents\\anvil\\connect\\config:\\opt\\connect\\config:ro"
+
+        spec = parse_volume_spec(windows_relative_path)
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            spec,
+            (
+                "c:\\Users\\msamblanet\\Documents\\anvil\\connect\\config",
+                "\\opt\\connect\\config",
+                "ro"
+            )
+        )
+
     def test_build_volume_binding(self):
         binding = build_volume_binding(parse_volume_spec('/outside:/inside'))
         self.assertEqual(binding, ('/inside', '/outside:/inside:rw'))