diff --git a/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.cxx b/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.cxx
index 9b7a6ed8e..fe0e31bcd 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.cxx
+++ b/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.cxx
@@ -65,10 +65,15 @@
 #endif
 
 // Windows API.  Some parts used even on cygwin.
-#if defined(_WIN32)
+#if defined(_WIN32) || defined (__CYGWIN__)
 # include <windows.h>
 #endif
 
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+# undef _WIN32
+extern "C" void cygwin_conv_to_win32_path(const char *path, char *win32_path);
+#endif
+
 // getpwnam doesn't exist on Windows and Cray Xt3/Catamount
 // same for TIOCGWINSZ
 #if defined(_WIN32) || defined (__LIBCATAMOUNT__)
@@ -892,40 +897,70 @@ bool SystemTools::SameFile(const char* file1, const char* file2)
 #endif
 }
 
-
-// return true if the file exists
-bool SystemTools::FileExists(const char* filename, bool isFile)
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#if defined(_WIN32) || defined(__CYGWIN__)
+static bool WindowsFileExists(const char* filename)
 {
-#ifdef _MSC_VER
-# define access _access
-#endif
-#ifndef R_OK
-# define R_OK 04
+  WIN32_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DATA fd;
+  return GetFileAttributesExA(filename, GetFileExInfoStandard, &fd) != 0;
+}
 #endif
 
-#ifdef __SYLLABLE__
-  if ((filename !=0) && (*filename == 0))
-    {
-    return false;
-  }
-#endif
-
-  if ( access(filename, R_OK) != 0 )
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool SystemTools::FileExists(const char* filename)
+{
+  if(!(filename && *filename))
     {
     return false;
     }
-  else
+#if defined(__CYGWIN__)
+  // Convert filename to native windows path if possible.
+  char winpath[MAX_PATH];
+  if(SystemTools::PathCygwinToWin32(filename, winpath))
+    {
+    return WindowsFileExists(winpath);
+    }
+  return access(filename, R_OK) == 0;
+#elif defined(_WIN32)
+  return WindowsFileExists(filename);
+#else
+  return access(filename, R_OK) == 0;
+#endif
+}
+
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool SystemTools::FileExists(const char* filename, bool isFile)
+{
+  if(SystemTools::FileExists(filename))
     {
     // If isFile is set return not FileIsDirectory,
     // so this will only be true if it is a file
-    if(isFile)
-      {
-      return !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(filename);
-      }
-    return true;
+    return !isFile || !SystemTools::FileIsDirectory(filename);
     }
+  return false;
 }
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+bool SystemTools::PathCygwinToWin32(const char *path, char *win32_path)
+{
+  SystemToolsTranslationMap::iterator i =
+    SystemTools::Cyg2Win32Map->find(path);
+
+  if (i != SystemTools::Cyg2Win32Map->end())
+    {
+    strncpy(win32_path, i->second.c_str(), MAX_PATH);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+    cygwin_conv_to_win32_path(path, win32_path);
+    SystemToolsTranslationMap::value_type entry(path, win32_path);
+    SystemTools::Cyg2Win32Map->insert(entry);
+    }
+  return win32_path[0] != 0;
+}
+#endif
+
 bool SystemTools::Touch(const char* filename, bool create)
 {
   if(create && !SystemTools::FileExists(filename))
@@ -4536,6 +4571,9 @@ bool SystemTools::ParseURL( const kwsys_stl::string& URL,
 unsigned int SystemToolsManagerCount;
 SystemToolsTranslationMap *SystemTools::TranslationMap;
 SystemToolsTranslationMap *SystemTools::LongPathMap;
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+SystemToolsTranslationMap *SystemTools::Cyg2Win32Map;
+#endif
 
 // SystemToolsManager manages the SystemTools singleton.
 // SystemToolsManager should be included in any translation unit
@@ -4581,6 +4619,9 @@ void SystemTools::ClassInitialize()
   // Allocate the translation map first.
   SystemTools::TranslationMap = new SystemToolsTranslationMap;
   SystemTools::LongPathMap = new SystemToolsTranslationMap;
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+  SystemTools::Cyg2Win32Map = new SystemToolsTranslationMap;
+#endif
 
   // Add some special translation paths for unix.  These are not added
   // for windows because drive letters need to be maintained.  Also,
@@ -4637,6 +4678,9 @@ void SystemTools::ClassFinalize()
 {
   delete SystemTools::TranslationMap;
   delete SystemTools::LongPathMap;
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+  delete SystemTools::Cyg2Win32Map;
+#endif
 }
 
 
diff --git a/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.hxx.in b/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.hxx.in
index 8cba8102e..568beb031 100644
--- a/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.hxx.in
+++ b/Source/kwsys/SystemTools.hxx.in
@@ -275,7 +275,17 @@ public:
    * not a directory.  If isFile = false, then return true
    * if it is a file or a directory.
    */
-  static bool FileExists(const char* filename, bool isFile=false);
+  static bool FileExists(const char* filename, bool isFile);
+  static bool FileExists(const char* filename);
+
+  /**
+   * Converts Cygwin path to Win32 path. Uses dictionary container for
+   * caching and calls to cygwin_conv_to_win32_path from Cygwin dll
+   * for actual translation.  Returns true on success, else false.
+   */
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+  static bool PathCygwinToWin32(const char *path, char *win32_path);
+#endif
 
   /**
    * Return file length
@@ -890,6 +900,9 @@ private:
    */
   static SystemToolsTranslationMap *TranslationMap;
   static SystemToolsTranslationMap *LongPathMap;
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+  static SystemToolsTranslationMap *Cyg2Win32Map;
+#endif
   friend class SystemToolsManager;
 };