diff --git a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessbackend.cpp b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessbackend.cpp
index 183afadf17..692af1b2fc 100644
--- a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessbackend.cpp
+++ b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessbackend.cpp
@@ -383,7 +383,8 @@ bool QNetworkAccessBackend::start()
             const QString host = reply->url.host();
 
             if (host == QLatin1String("localhost") ||
-                QHostAddress(host).isLoopback()) {
+                QHostAddress(host).isLoopback() ||
+                reply->url.isLocalFile()) {
                 // Don't need an open session for localhost access.
             } else {
                 // need to wait for session to be opened