diff --git a/util/ocilayout/parse.go b/util/ocilayout/parse.go
index 5c7dd8ed7..9e0b6ee42 100644
--- a/util/ocilayout/parse.go
+++ b/util/ocilayout/parse.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package ocilayout
 
 import (
-	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/distribution/reference"
@@ -60,8 +59,13 @@ func (r Ref) String() string {
 	return s
 }
 
-var windowsDrivePath = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z]:[\\/]`)
-
 func isWindowsDrivePath(path string, colon int) bool {
-	return colon == 1 && windowsDrivePath.MatchString(path)
+	if colon != 1 || len(path) < 3 {
+		return false
+	}
+	if path[2] != '/' && path[2] != '\\' {
+		return false
+	}
+	c := path[0]
+	return ('a' <= c && c <= 'z') || ('A' <= c && c <= 'Z')
 }
diff --git a/util/ocilayout/parse_test.go b/util/ocilayout/parse_test.go
index 3b3e5e966..3a4fec0f2 100644
--- a/util/ocilayout/parse_test.go
+++ b/util/ocilayout/parse_test.go
@@ -72,12 +72,14 @@ func TestParse(t *testing.T) {
 			dgst: "sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
 		},
 	} {
-		ref, ok, err := Parse(tt.s)
-		require.True(t, ok)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.Equal(t, tt.path, ref.Path, "comparing path: %s", tt.s)
-		assert.Equal(t, tt.dgst, ref.Digest.String(), "comparing digest: %s", tt.s)
-		assert.Equal(t, tt.tag, ref.Tag, "comparing tag: %s", tt.s)
+		t.Run(tt.s, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ref, ok, err := Parse(tt.s)
+			require.True(t, ok)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.path, ref.Path, "comparing path: %s", tt.s)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.dgst, ref.Digest.String(), "comparing digest: %s", tt.s)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.tag, ref.Tag, "comparing tag: %s", tt.s)
+		})
 	}
 }