diff --git a/nix-js/src/ir/downgrade.rs b/nix-js/src/ir/downgrade.rs
index 8f381b9..551d0df 100644
--- a/nix-js/src/ir/downgrade.rs
+++ b/nix-js/src/ir/downgrade.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,28 @@
 #![allow(clippy::unwrap_used)]
 
 use rnix::ast::{self, Expr, HasEntry};
+use std::path::{Component, Path as StdPath, PathBuf};
 
 use crate::error::{Error, Result};
 
 use super::*;
 
+fn normalize_path(path: &StdPath) -> String {
+    let mut normalized = PathBuf::new();
+    for component in path.components() {
+        match component {
+            Component::Prefix(p) => normalized.push(p.as_os_str()),
+            Component::RootDir => normalized.push("/"),
+            Component::CurDir => {}
+            Component::ParentDir => {
+                normalized.pop();
+            }
+            Component::Normal(c) => normalized.push(c),
+        }
+    }
+    normalized.to_string_lossy().to_string()
+}
+
 pub trait Downgrade<Ctx: DowngradeContext> {
     fn downgrade(self, ctx: &mut Ctx) -> Result<ExprId>;
 }
@@ -74,21 +91,10 @@ impl<Ctx: DowngradeContext> Downgrade<Ctx> for ast::Path {
                 .collect();
 
             let resolved_path = if path_str.starts_with('/') {
-                path_str
+                normalize_path(&std::path::PathBuf::from(&path_str))
             } else {
                 let current_dir = ctx.get_current_dir();
-
-                current_dir
-                    .join(&path_str)
-                    .canonicalize()
-                    .map_err(|e| {
-                        crate::error::Error::downgrade_error(format!(
-                            "Failed to resolve path {}: {}",
-                            path_str, e
-                        ))
-                    })?
-                    .to_string_lossy()
-                    .to_string()
+                normalize_path(&current_dir.join(&path_str))
             };
 
             vec![ctx.new_expr(Str { val: resolved_path }.to_ir())]