Index: src/java/org/apache/ivy/plugins/parser/xml/XmlModuleDescriptorParser.java
===================================================================
--- src/java/org/apache/ivy/plugins/parser/xml/XmlModuleDescriptorParser.java	(revision 1357444)
+++ src/java/org/apache/ivy/plugins/parser/xml/XmlModuleDescriptorParser.java	(working copy)
@@ -620,7 +620,14 @@
          * @throws ParseException 
          */
         protected void checkParentModuleOnFilesystem(String location) throws IOException, ParseException {
-            URL url =getSettings().getRelativeUrlResolver().getURL(descriptorURL, location);
+            File file = new File(location);
+            URL url = null;
+            if (file.isAbsolute()) {
+                url = getSettings().getRelativeUrlResolver().getURL(descriptorURL,
+                    file.getAbsolutePath(), location);
+            } else {
+                url = getSettings().getRelativeUrlResolver().getURL(descriptorURL, location);
+            }
             //is parent module reachable using location attribute ?
             if (url.openConnection().getContentLength() >0 ) {
                 IvySettings ivysettings = IvyContext.getContext().getSettings();