diff --git a/src/tufup/repo/__init__.py b/src/tufup/repo/__init__.py
index 4302934..6eef251 100644
--- a/src/tufup/repo/__init__.py
+++ b/src/tufup/repo/__init__.py
@@ -594,8 +594,9 @@ def save_config(self):
         """Save current configuration."""
         config_file_path = self.get_config_file_path()
         # make paths relative to current working directory (cwd),
-        # if possible, otherwise keep absolute paths (note, to avoid
-        # confusion, using paths other than cwd is discouraged)
+        # if possible, otherwise keep absolute paths (see #50)
+        # (note, to avoid confusion, using paths other than cwd is discouraged)
+        # also enforce posix paths on windows (see #147)
         temp_config_dict = self.config_dict  # note self.config_dict is a property
         for key in ['repo_dir', 'keys_dir']:
             try:
@@ -630,11 +631,12 @@ def load_config(cls) -> dict:
             logger.warning(f'config file not found: {file_path}')
         except json.JSONDecodeError:
             logger.warning(f'config file invalid: {file_path}')
-        # force posix paths (in case legacy windows config is loaded on linux, see #147)
+        # enforce posix paths (for legacy windows configs loaded on linux, see #147)
         for key in ['repo_dir', 'keys_dir']:
             value = config_dict.get(key)
             if value:
-                config_dict[key] = pathlib.Path(value).as_posix()
+                # interpret the value as a windows path (\\ or /) then enforce posix (/)
+                config_dict[key] = pathlib.PureWindowsPath(value).as_posix()
         return config_dict
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/tests/test_repo.py b/tests/test_repo.py
index 42fae9b..88fde46 100644
--- a/tests/test_repo.py
+++ b/tests/test_repo.py
@@ -561,7 +561,6 @@ def test_save_config_windows_paths(self):
             with self.subTest(msg=key):
                 self.assertEqual(kwargs[key].replace('\\', '/'), config[key])
 
-
     def test_load_config(self):
         # file does not exist
         self.assertEqual(dict(), Repository.load_config())
@@ -570,6 +569,19 @@ def test_load_config(self):
         # test
         self.assertEqual(dict(), Repository.load_config())
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(condition=ON_WINDOWS, reason='posix only')
+    def test_load_config_windows_paths(self):
+        # prepare (mix windows paths and posix paths for convenience)
+        mock_config = dict(repo_dir='foo\\repo', keys_dir='/tmp/bar/keys')
+        config_path = Repository.get_config_file_path()
+        config_path.write_text(json.dumps(mock_config))
+        print(config_path.read_text())
+        # test
+        config = Repository.load_config()
+        for key in mock_config.keys():
+            with self.subTest(msg=key):
+                self.assertEqual(mock_config[key].replace('\\', '/'), config[key])
+
     def test_from_config(self):
         temp_dir = self.temp_dir_path.resolve()
         repo_dir_abs = temp_dir / 'repo'