diff --git a/lib/fs/basicfs_watch.go b/lib/fs/basicfs_watch.go
index dbc1ad48..f00e8206 100644
--- a/lib/fs/basicfs_watch.go
+++ b/lib/fs/basicfs_watch.go
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
 
 	"github.com/syncthing/notify"
 )
@@ -33,12 +32,6 @@ func (f *BasicFilesystem) Watch(name string, ignore Matcher, ctx context.Context
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// Remove `\\?\` prefix if the path is just a drive letter as a dirty
-	// fix for https://github.com/syncthing/syncthing/issues/5578
-	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && len(absName) <= 7 && len(absName) > 4 && absName[:4] == `\\?\` {
-		absName = absName[4:]
-	}
-
 	outChan := make(chan Event)
 	backendChan := make(chan notify.EventInfo, backendBuffer)