diff --git a/beetsplug/web/__init__.py b/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
index 21ff5d94e..49149772d 100644
--- a/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
+++ b/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
@@ -177,10 +177,11 @@ class QueryConverter(PathConverter):
     """
 
     def to_python(self, value):
-        return value.split('/')
+        queries = value.split('/')
+        return [query.replace('\\', os.sep) for query in queries]
 
     def to_url(self, value):
-        return ','.join(value)
+        return ','.join([v.replace(os.sep, '\\') for v in value])
 
 
 class EverythingConverter(PathConverter):
diff --git a/docs/plugins/web.rst b/docs/plugins/web.rst
index d416b1b7d..481727475 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/web.rst
+++ b/docs/plugins/web.rst
@@ -210,7 +210,14 @@ If the server runs UNIX, you'll need to include an extra leading slash:
 ``GET /item/query/querystring``
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
-Returns a list of tracks matching the query. The *querystring* must be a valid query as described in :doc:`/reference/query`. ::
+Returns a list of tracks matching the query. The *querystring* must be a
+valid query as described in :doc:`/reference/query`. Path elements are
+joined as query keywords. For example, ``/item/query/foo/bar`` will be
+converted to the query ``foo,bar``. As this conflicts with using a slash
+character as a path seperator in path queries, a backlash character
+should be used in these queries instead. This character is converted to
+the path seperator actually used by the operating system before the
+query is performed. ::
 
     {
       "results": [