diff --git a/basis/io/directories/windows/windows.factor b/basis/io/directories/windows/windows.factor
index b06a5bf1e1..b6a97b9516 100644
--- a/basis/io/directories/windows/windows.factor
+++ b/basis/io/directories/windows/windows.factor
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ ERROR: file-delete-failed path error ;
 M: windows delete-file ( path -- )
     absolute-path
     [ (delete-file) ]
-    [ \ file-delete-failed boa rethrow ] recover ;
+    [ file-delete-failed boa rethrow ] recover ;
 
 M: windows make-directory ( path -- )
     normalize-path