diff --git a/cli/tests/testdata/compiler_api_test.ts b/cli/tests/testdata/compiler_api_test.ts
index 168d70ce65..81f049ac13 100644
--- a/cli/tests/testdata/compiler_api_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/testdata/compiler_api_test.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,22 @@ Deno.test({
   },
 });
 
+Deno.test({
+  name: "Deno.emit() - data url",
+  async fn() {
+    const data =
+      "data:application/javascript;base64,Y29uc29sZS5sb2coImhlbGxvIHdvcmxkIik7";
+    const { diagnostics, files, ignoredOptions, stats } = await Deno.emit(data);
+    assertEquals(diagnostics.length, 0);
+    assert(!ignoredOptions);
+    assertEquals(stats.length, 0);
+    const keys = Object.keys(files);
+    assertEquals(keys.length, 1);
+    assertEquals(keys[0], data);
+    assertStringIncludes(files[keys[0]], 'console.log("hello world");');
+  },
+});
+
 Deno.test({
   name: "Deno.emit() - compiler options effects emit",
   async fn() {
diff --git a/runtime/js/40_compiler_api.js b/runtime/js/40_compiler_api.js
index 011373eb0e..bd787ef74e 100644
--- a/runtime/js/40_compiler_api.js
+++ b/runtime/js/40_compiler_api.js
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
   function checkRelative(specifier) {
     return StringPrototypeMatch(
         specifier,
-        /^([\.\/\\]|https?:\/{2}|file:\/{2})/,
+        /^([\.\/\\]|https?:\/{2}|file:\/{2}|data:)/,
       )
       ? specifier
       : `./${specifier}`;