diff --git a/pydevd_file_utils.py b/pydevd_file_utils.py
index 92919c4f..e562308d 100644
--- a/pydevd_file_utils.py
+++ b/pydevd_file_utils.py
@@ -503,6 +503,9 @@ def _apply_func_and_normalize_case(filename, func, isabs, normalize_case, os_pat
         ind += 4
         zip_path = r[:ind]
         inner_path = r[ind:]
+        if inner_path and not inner_path.startswith(("!", "/", "\\")):
+            # Keep paths such as ".zipx/main.py" as regular filesystem paths.
+            inner_path = ""
         if inner_path.startswith("!"):
             # Note (fabioz): although I can replicate this by creating a file ending as
             # .zip! or .egg!, I don't really know what's the real-world case for this
diff --git a/tests_python/test_pydevd_file_utils.py b/tests_python/test_pydevd_file_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..05d384e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests_python/test_pydevd_file_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import os
+
+import pydevd_file_utils
+
+
+def test_normalize_case_does_not_split_dot_zipx_directory(tmpdir):
+    zipx_dir = tmpdir.mkdir(".zipx")
+    filename = str(zipx_dir.join("main.py"))
+    zipx_dir.join("main.py").write("print('ok')\n")
+
+    expected = os.path.abspath(filename)
+    assert pydevd_file_utils._apply_func_and_normalize_case(filename, os.path.abspath, True, False) == expected