diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/makemessages.py b/django/core/management/commands/makemessages.py
index 48608feb9b1..2afbc8949c8 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/makemessages.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/makemessages.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from django.core.management.utils import (
     find_command, handle_extensions, popen_wrapper,
 )
 from django.utils import six
+from django.utils._os import upath
 from django.utils.encoding import force_str
 from django.utils.functional import cached_property, total_ordering
 from django.utils.jslex import prepare_js_for_gettext
@@ -472,7 +473,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         the msgs string, inserting it at the right place. msgs should be the
         contents of a newly created .po file.
         """
-        django_dir = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(django.__file__)))
+        django_dir = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(upath(django.__file__))))
         if self.domain == 'djangojs':
             domains = ('djangojs', 'django')
         else: