diff --git a/guix/scripts/download.scm b/guix/scripts/download.scm
index bb3dc76741..f40213be33 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/download.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/download.scm
@@ -143,12 +143,15 @@ (define (parse-options)
            (arg   (or (assq-ref opts 'argument)
                       (leave (G_ "no download URI was specified~%"))))
            (uri   (or (string->uri arg)
+                      (false-if-exception
+                       (string->uri
+                        (string-append "file://" (canonicalize-path arg))))
                       (leave (G_ "~a: failed to parse URI~%")
                              arg)))
            (fetch (assq-ref opts 'download-proc))
            (path  (parameterize ((current-terminal-columns
                                   (terminal-columns)))
-                    (fetch arg
+                    (fetch (uri->string uri)
                            #:verify-certificate?
                            (assq-ref opts 'verify-certificate?))))
            (hash  (call-with-input-file
diff --git a/tests/guix-download.sh b/tests/guix-download.sh
index ebc853c7fa..30f55fbe2b 100644
--- a/tests/guix-download.sh
+++ b/tests/guix-download.sh
@@ -29,12 +29,15 @@ then false; else true; fi
 if guix download unknown://some/where;
 then false; else true; fi
 
-if guix download not/a/uri;
+if guix download /does-not-exist
 then false; else true; fi
 
 # This one should succeed.
 guix download "file://$abs_top_srcdir/README"
 
+# And this one, without the URI scheme.
+guix download "$abs_top_srcdir/README"
+
 # This one too, even if it cannot talk to the daemon.
 output="t-download-$$"
 trap 'rm -f "$output"' EXIT