diff --git a/src/dos/dos_programs.cpp b/src/dos/dos_programs.cpp
index e44da48676..1908f084b8 100644
--- a/src/dos/dos_programs.cpp
+++ b/src/dos/dos_programs.cpp
@@ -8311,15 +8311,8 @@ void VHDMAKE::Run()
         safe_strcpy(basename, temp_line.c_str());
         cmd->FindCommand(2, temp_line);
         safe_strcpy(filename, temp_line.c_str());
-#ifdef WIN32
-        if(basename[1] == ':')
-            WriteOut(MSG_Get("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_ABSPATH_WIN"));
-#else
-        if(basename[0] == '/') {
-            WriteOut(MSG_Get("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_ABSPATH_UX"));
-            return;
-        }
-#endif
+        if(basename[1] == ':' || basename[0] == '/')
+            WriteOut(MSG_Get("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_ABSPATH"));
         if(! bOverwrite && _access(filename, 0) == 0) {
             WriteOut(MSG_Get("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_FNEEDED"));
             return;
@@ -9879,8 +9872,7 @@ void DOS_SetupPrograms(void) {
     MSG_Add("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_MERGEOKDELETE", "Snapshot VHD merged and deleted.\n");
     MSG_Add("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_MERGEFAILED", "Failure while merging, aborted!\n");
     MSG_Add("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_MERGEWARNCORRUPTION", " Parent \"%s\" contents could be corrupted!\n");
-    MSG_Add("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_ABSPATH_WIN", "Warning: an absolute path to parent limits portability to Windows.\nPlease prefer a path relative to differencing image file!\n");
-    MSG_Add("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_ABSPATH_UX", "ERROR: an absolute path to parent inhibits portability.\nUse a path relative to differencing image file!\n");
+    MSG_Add("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_ABSPATH", "Warning: an absolute path to parent prevents portability.\nPlease prefer a path relative to the differencing image file!\n");
     MSG_Add("PROGRAM_VHDMAKE_HELP",
         "Creates Dynamic or Differencing VHD images, converts raw images into Fixed VHD,\n"
         "shows information about VHD images and merges them.\n"
diff --git a/src/ints/bios_vhd.cpp b/src/ints/bios_vhd.cpp
index 4b9e2c6853..26d97f4264 100644
--- a/src/ints/bios_vhd.cpp
+++ b/src/ints/bios_vhd.cpp
@@ -732,7 +732,15 @@ uint32_t imageDiskVHD::CreateDifferencing(const char* filename, const char* base
     uint32_t table_size = (4 * header.maxTableEntries + 511) / 512 * 512;
 
     //Locators - Windows 11 wants at least the relative W2ru locator, or won't mount!
-    uint32_t l_basename = strlen(basename);
+    // we store the absolute pathname to prevent complex depth calculations
+#if defined (WIN32)
+    char absBasePathName[MAX_PATH];
+    _fullpath(absBasePathName, basename, MAX_PATH);
+#else
+    char absBasePathName[PATH_MAX];
+    realpath(basename, absBasePathName);
+#endif
+    uint32_t l_basename = strlen(absBasePathName);
     uint32_t platsize = (2 * l_basename + 511) / 512 * 512;
     header.parentLocatorEntry[0].platformCode = 0x57326B75; //W2ku
     header.parentLocatorEntry[0].platformDataLength = 2 * l_basename;
@@ -760,11 +768,11 @@ uint32_t imageDiskVHD::CreateDifferencing(const char* filename, const char* base
         table_size -= 512;
     }
     //write Parent Locator sectors
-    wchar_t* w_basename = (wchar_t*)malloc(platsize);
+    uint16_t* w_basename = (uint16_t*)malloc(platsize);
     memset(w_basename, 0, platsize);
     for(uint32_t i = 0; i < l_basename; i++)
         //dirty hack to quickly convert ASCII -> UTF-16 *LE* and fix slashes
-        w_basename[i] = SDL_SwapLE16(basename[i]=='/'? (uint16_t)'\\' : (uint16_t)basename[i]);
+        w_basename[i] = SDL_SwapLE16(absBasePathName[i]=='/'? (uint16_t)'\\' : (uint16_t)absBasePathName[i]);
     if (fwrite(w_basename, 1, platsize, vhd) != platsize) STATUS = ERROR_WRITING;
     if (fwrite(w_basename, 1, platsize, vhd) != platsize) STATUS = ERROR_WRITING;