diff --git a/python/ovs/unixctl/__init__.py b/python/ovs/unixctl/__init__.py
index d3d35562b..48b56d45d 100644
--- a/python/ovs/unixctl/__init__.py
+++ b/python/ovs/unixctl/__init__.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import six
+import sys
 
 import ovs.util
 
@@ -71,7 +72,8 @@ def command_register(name, usage, min_args, max_args, callback, aux):
 def socket_name_from_target(target):
     assert isinstance(target, strtypes)
 
-    if target.startswith("/"):
+    """ On Windows an absolute path contains ':' ( i.e: C:\ ) """
+    if target.startswith('/') or target.find(':') > -1:
         return 0, target
 
     pidfile_name = "%s/%s.pid" % (ovs.dirs.RUNDIR, target)
@@ -79,6 +81,9 @@ def socket_name_from_target(target):
     if pid < 0:
         return -pid, "cannot read pidfile \"%s\"" % pidfile_name
 
-    return 0, "%s/%s.%d.ctl" % (ovs.dirs.RUNDIR, target, pid)
+    if sys.platform == "win32":
+        return 0, "%s/%s.ctl" % (ovs.dirs.RUNDIR, target)
+    else:
+        return 0, "%s/%s.%d.ctl" % (ovs.dirs.RUNDIR, target, pid)
 
 command_register("help", "", 0, 0, _unixctl_help, None)
diff --git a/python/ovs/unixctl/server.py b/python/ovs/unixctl/server.py
index cc712bf41..8595ed8c1 100644
--- a/python/ovs/unixctl/server.py
+++ b/python/ovs/unixctl/server.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import copy
 import errno
 import os
+import sys
 
 import six
 from six.moves import range
@@ -188,8 +189,13 @@ class UnixctlServer(object):
         if path is not None:
             path = "punix:%s" % ovs.util.abs_file_name(ovs.dirs.RUNDIR, path)
         else:
-            path = "punix:%s/%s.%d.ctl" % (ovs.dirs.RUNDIR,
-                                           ovs.util.PROGRAM_NAME, os.getpid())
+            if sys.platform == "win32":
+                path = "punix:%s/%s.ctl" % (ovs.dirs.RUNDIR,
+                                            ovs.util.PROGRAM_NAME)
+            else:
+                path = "punix:%s/%s.%d.ctl" % (ovs.dirs.RUNDIR,
+                                               ovs.util.PROGRAM_NAME,
+                                               os.getpid())
 
         if version is None:
             version = ovs.version.VERSION