diff --git a/compose/config/config.py b/compose/config/config.py
index 47ec177e3..2a6e8437b 100644
--- a/compose/config/config.py
+++ b/compose/config/config.py
@@ -815,11 +815,12 @@ def finalize_service_volumes(service_dict, environment):
     if 'volumes' in service_dict:
         finalized_volumes = []
         normalize = environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_CONVERT_WINDOWS_PATHS')
+        win_host = environment.get_boolean('COMPOSE_FORCE_WINDOWS_HOST')
         for v in service_dict['volumes']:
             if isinstance(v, dict):
-                finalized_volumes.append(MountSpec.parse(v, normalize))
+                finalized_volumes.append(MountSpec.parse(v, normalize, win_host))
             else:
-                finalized_volumes.append(VolumeSpec.parse(v, normalize))
+                finalized_volumes.append(VolumeSpec.parse(v, normalize, win_host))
         service_dict['volumes'] = finalized_volumes
 
     return service_dict
diff --git a/compose/config/types.py b/compose/config/types.py
index 5e1087858..72e68d345 100644
--- a/compose/config/types.py
+++ b/compose/config/types.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Types for objects parsed from the configuration.
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
+import ntpath
 import os
 import re
 from collections import namedtuple
@@ -145,9 +146,10 @@ class MountSpec(object):
     _fields = ['type', 'source', 'target', 'read_only', 'consistency']
 
     @classmethod
-    def parse(cls, mount_dict, normalize=False):
+    def parse(cls, mount_dict, normalize=False, win_host=False):
+        normpath = ntpath.normpath if win_host else os.path.normpath
         if mount_dict.get('source'):
-            mount_dict['source'] = os.path.normpath(mount_dict['source'])
+            mount_dict['source'] = normpath(mount_dict['source'])
             if normalize:
                 mount_dict['source'] = normalize_path_for_engine(mount_dict['source'])
 
@@ -193,6 +195,7 @@ class MountSpec(object):
 
 
 class VolumeSpec(namedtuple('_VolumeSpec', 'external internal mode')):
+    win32 = False
 
     @classmethod
     def _parse_unix(cls, volume_config):
@@ -236,7 +239,7 @@ class VolumeSpec(namedtuple('_VolumeSpec', 'external internal mode')):
         else:
             external = parts[0]
             parts = separate_next_section(parts[1])
-            external = os.path.normpath(external)
+            external = ntpath.normpath(external)
             internal = parts[0]
             if len(parts) > 1:
                 if ':' in parts[1]:
@@ -249,14 +252,16 @@ class VolumeSpec(namedtuple('_VolumeSpec', 'external internal mode')):
         if normalize:
             external = normalize_path_for_engine(external) if external else None
 
-        return cls(external, internal, mode)
+        result = cls(external, internal, mode)
+        result.win32 = True
+        return result
 
     @classmethod
-    def parse(cls, volume_config, normalize=False):
+    def parse(cls, volume_config, normalize=False, win_host=False):
         """Parse a volume_config path and split it into external:internal[:mode]
         parts to be returned as a valid VolumeSpec.
         """
-        if IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM:
+        if IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM or win_host:
             return cls._parse_win32(volume_config, normalize)
         else:
             return cls._parse_unix(volume_config)
@@ -269,7 +274,7 @@ class VolumeSpec(namedtuple('_VolumeSpec', 'external internal mode')):
     @property
     def is_named_volume(self):
         res = self.external and not self.external.startswith(('.', '/', '~'))
-        if not IS_WINDOWS_PLATFORM:
+        if not self.win32:
             return res
 
         return (