diff --git a/uri.c b/uri.c
index e0c96dd..3ad9f57 100644
--- a/uri.c
+++ b/uri.c
@@ -1754,6 +1754,13 @@
     }
     if (ret != 0)
 	goto done;
+    if ((ref != NULL) && (ref->scheme != NULL)) {
+	/*
+	 * The URI is absolute don't modify.
+	 */
+	val = xmlStrdup(URI);
+	goto done;
+    }
     if (base == NULL)
 	ret = -1;
     else {