diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index 92de369ed..78198b4ae 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -248,6 +248,9 @@ Fixed bugs:
 * <macrodef> with redefined default values was incorrect. (Fix for
    31215 had a bug). Bugzilla report 35109.
 
+* <javadoc> will convert baskslashes to forwardslashes when generating file
+  list by useexternalfile. Bugzilla report 27814.
+
 Changes from Ant 1.6.3 to Ant 1.6.4
 ===================================
 
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javadoc.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javadoc.java
index 179cee236..aa4b04a1e 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javadoc.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javadoc.java
@@ -1965,8 +1965,10 @@ public class Javadoc extends Task {
                 if (useExternalFile) {
                     // XXX what is the following doing? should it run if !javadoc4 && executable != null?
                     if (javadoc4 && sourceFileName.indexOf(" ") > -1) {
-                        String name = 
-                            sourceFileName.replace(File.separatorChar, '/');
+                        String name = sourceFileName;
+                        if (File.separatorChar == '\\') {
+                            name = sourceFileName.replace(File.separatorChar, '/');
+                        }
                         srcListWriter.println("\"" + name + "\"");
                     } else {
                         srcListWriter.println(sourceFileName);