diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/externalModules.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/externalModules.js
index 470d09a29..ca1e4bfd8 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/externalModules.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/registry/lib/externalModules.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const clone = require("clone");
 const exec = require("@node-red/util").exec;
 const log = require("@node-red/util").log;
 const hooks = require("@node-red/util").hooks;
+const url = require("url");
 
 const BUILTIN_MODULES = require('module').builtinModules;
 
@@ -139,7 +140,8 @@ function importModule(module) {
     const externalModuleDir = getInstallDir();
     const moduleDir = path.join(externalModuleDir,"node_modules",module);
     // Import needs the full path to the module's main .js file
-    const moduleFile = require.resolve(moduleDir);
+    // It also needs to be a file:// url for Windows
+    const moduleFile = url.pathToFileURL(require.resolve(moduleDir));
     return import(moduleFile);
 }