diff -r 3fb84c1da8c5 Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py	Sat Oct 27 03:48:40 2012 -0700
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py	Sun Oct 28 23:32:55 2012 -0400
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 """Tests for distutils.util."""
+import os
 import sys
 import unittest
 from test.test_support import run_unittest
 
 from distutils.errors import DistutilsPlatformError, DistutilsByteCompileError
-from distutils.util import byte_compile
+from distutils.util import byte_compile, change_root
+
 
 class UtilTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
@@ -18,6 +20,34 @@
         finally:
             sys.dont_write_bytecode = old_dont_write_bytecode
 
+
+    def test_linux_change_root(self):
+        orig_name = os.environ
+        self.addCleanup(setattr, os, 'name', orig_name)
+        os.name = 'posix'
+
+        new_root = "/"
+        pathname = "/path/to/install"
+        expected_pathname = "/path/to/install"
+        path = change_root(new_root, pathname)
+        self.assertEqual(path, expected_pathname)
+
+        new_root = "/home"
+        expected_pathname = "/home/path/to/install"
+        path = change_root(new_root, pathname)
+        self.assertEqual(path, expected_pathname)
+
+        pathname = "path/to/install"
+        new_root = "/"
+        expected_pathname = "/path/to/install"
+        path = change_root(new_root, pathname)
+        self.assertEqual(path, expected_pathname)
+
+        new_root = "/home"
+        expected_pathname = "/home/path/to/install"
+        path = change_root(new_root, pathname)
+        self.assertEqual(path, expected_pathname)
+
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.makeSuite(UtilTestCase)
 
diff -r 3fb84c1da8c5 Lib/distutils/util.py
--- a/Lib/distutils/util.py	Sat Oct 27 03:48:40 2012 -0700
+++ b/Lib/distutils/util.py	Sun Oct 28 23:32:55 2012 -0400
@@ -219,26 +219,11 @@
     """Return 'pathname' with 'new_root' prepended.  If 'pathname' is
     relative, this is equivalent to "os.path.join(new_root,pathname)".
     Otherwise, it requires making 'pathname' relative and then joining the
-    two, which is tricky on DOS/Windows and Mac OS.
+    two.
     """
-    if os.name == 'posix':
-        if not os.path.isabs(pathname):
-            return os.path.join(new_root, pathname)
-        else:
-            return os.path.join(new_root, pathname[1:])
-
-    elif os.name == 'nt':
+    if os.name in ['posix', 'nt', 'os2']:
         (drive, path) = os.path.splitdrive(pathname)
-        if path[0] == '\\':
-            path = path[1:]
-        return os.path.join(new_root, path)
-
-    elif os.name == 'os2':
-        (drive, path) = os.path.splitdrive(pathname)
-        if path[0] == os.sep:
-            path = path[1:]
-        return os.path.join(new_root, path)
-
+        return os.path.join(new_root, path.lstrip(os.sep))
     else:
         raise DistutilsPlatformError, \
               "nothing known about platform '%s'" % os.name