diff --git a/src/bitstream_programmer.py b/src/bitstream_programmer.py
index b672a09..0b3c09a 100644
--- a/src/bitstream_programmer.py
+++ b/src/bitstream_programmer.py
@@ -37,6 +37,15 @@ ProgressCallback = Callable[[str, str], None] | None
 # ── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
+def _tcl_path(path: str | Path) -> str:
+    """Convert a filesystem path to TCL-safe format.
+
+    TCL interprets backslashes as escape sequences (\\f, \\t, \\n).
+    Forward slashes work on all platforms including Windows.
+    """
+    return str(path).replace("\\", "/")
+
+
 def _find_ps7_init_tcl(config: Config) -> str:
     """Find the ps7_init.tcl file for PS initialization.
 
@@ -187,11 +196,11 @@ def _program_with_xsct(
     lines = ["connect"]
     if ps7_init_tcl and Path(ps7_init_tcl).exists():
         lines.append("targets 1")
-        lines.append(f'source "{ps7_init_tcl}"')
+        lines.append(f'source "{_tcl_path(ps7_init_tcl)}"')
         lines.append("ps7_init")
         if callback:
             callback("progress", "PS initialized (clocks, DDR, MIO)")
-    lines.append(f'fpga -file "{bit_path}"')
+    lines.append(f'fpga -file {{{_tcl_path(bit_path)}}}')
     if ps7_init_tcl and Path(ps7_init_tcl).exists():
         lines.append("ps7_post_config")
         if callback:
@@ -381,13 +390,13 @@ def _run_elf_via_fsbl(
     tcl = "\n".join([
         "connect",
         "targets 2",
-        "dow \"%s\"" % fsbl_path,
+        "dow {%s}" % _tcl_path(fsbl_path),
         "puts \"FSBL downloaded\"",
         "con",
         "after 3000",
         "stop",
         "puts \"FSBL done, CPU halted\"",
-        "dow \"%s\"" % elf_path,
+        "dow {%s}" % _tcl_path(elf_path),
         "mwr 0xF800025C 0x00000001",
         "con",
         "puts \"App running\"",
@@ -461,7 +470,7 @@ def _run_elf_direct(
     tcl = "\n".join([
         "connect",
         "targets 2",
-        "dow \"%s\"" % elf_path,
+        "dow {%s}" % _tcl_path(elf_path),
         "mwr 0xF800025C 0x00000001",
         "con",
         "exit",
@@ -620,18 +629,18 @@ def full_bitstream_program(
         "rst -processor",
         "after 500",
         'puts "INFO: Downloading FSBL..."',
-        'dow "%s"' % fsbl_path,
+        'dow {%s}' % _tcl_path(fsbl_path),
         'puts "INFO: Running FSBL for hardware initialization..."',
         "con",
         "after 2000",
         "stop",
         'puts "INFO: Hardware initialization completed."',
         'puts "INFO: Downloading Bitstream..."',
-        'fpga -f "%s"' % bit_path,
+        'fpga -f {%s}' % _tcl_path(bit_path),
         "after 1000",
         'targets -set -nocase -filter {name =~ "arm*#0"}',
         'puts "INFO: Downloading Application ELF..."',
-        'dow "%s"' % elf_path,
+        'dow {%s}' % _tcl_path(elf_path),
         'puts "INFO: Executing Application..."',
         "con",
         'puts "SUCCESS: Zynq target is running the specified application."',