diff --git a/sdks/python/apache_beam/transforms/external.py b/sdks/python/apache_beam/transforms/external.py
index f13c29271d730..3b1323ccd24f5 100644
--- a/sdks/python/apache_beam/transforms/external.py
+++ b/sdks/python/apache_beam/transforms/external.py
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ def _expand_jars(jar):
       return glob.glob(jar)
     elif isinstance(jar, str) and (jar.startswith('http://') or
                                    jar.startswith('https://')):
-      return [jar]
+      return [subprocess_server.JavaJarServer.local_jar(jar)]
     else:
       # If the input JAR is not a local glob, nor an http/https URL, then
       # we assume that it's a gradle-style Java artifact in Maven Central,
@@ -716,8 +716,9 @@ def _expand_jars(jar):
         # a JAR path, we still choose to include it in the path.
         logging.warning('Unable to parse %s into group:artifact:version.', jar)
         return [jar]
-      path = subprocess_server.JavaJarServer.path_to_maven_jar(
-          artifact_id, group_id, version)
+      path = subprocess_server.JavaJarServer.local_jar(
+          subprocess_server.JavaJarServer.path_to_maven_jar(
+              artifact_id, group_id, version))
       return [path]
 
   def _default_args(self):
diff --git a/sdks/python/apache_beam/transforms/external_test.py b/sdks/python/apache_beam/transforms/external_test.py
index fdb4dd00e66fa..36a45a62e2e4a 100644
--- a/sdks/python/apache_beam/transforms/external_test.py
+++ b/sdks/python/apache_beam/transforms/external_test.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 import typing
 import unittest
 
+import mock
+
 import apache_beam as beam
 from apache_beam import Pipeline
 from apache_beam.coders import RowCoder
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@
 from apache_beam.typehints import typehints
 from apache_beam.typehints.native_type_compatibility import convert_to_beam_type
 from apache_beam.utils import proto_utils
+from apache_beam.utils.subprocess_server import JavaJarServer
 
 # Protect against environments where apitools library is not available.
 # pylint: disable=wrong-import-order, wrong-import-position
@@ -570,27 +573,68 @@ def test_classpath(self):
       finally:
         os.chdir(oldwd)
 
-  def test_maven_central_classpath(self):
+  @mock.patch.object(JavaJarServer, 'local_jar')
+  def test_classpath_with_url(self, local_jar):
+    def _side_effect_fn(path):
+      return path[path.rindex('/') + 1:]
+
+    local_jar.side_effect = _side_effect_fn
+
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
       try:
         # Avoid having to prefix everything in our test strings.
         oldwd = os.getcwd()
         os.chdir(temp_dir)
-        # Touch some files for globing.
-        with open('a1.jar', 'w') as _:
-          pass
 
         service = JavaJarExpansionService(
-            'main.jar',
-            classpath=['a*.jar', 'b.jar', 'org.postgresql:postgresql:42.2.16'])
+            'main.jar', classpath=['https://dummy_path/dummyjar.jar'])
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            service._default_args(),
+            ['{{PORT}}', '--filesToStage=main.jar,dummyjar.jar'])
+      finally:
+        os.chdir(oldwd)
+
+  @mock.patch.object(JavaJarServer, 'local_jar')
+  def test_classpath_with_gradle_artifact(self, local_jar):
+    def _side_effect_fn(path):
+      return path[path.rindex('/') + 1:]
+
+    local_jar.side_effect = _side_effect_fn
+
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+      try:
+        # Avoid having to prefix everything in our test strings.
+        oldwd = os.getcwd()
+        os.chdir(temp_dir)
+
+        service = JavaJarExpansionService(
+            'main.jar', classpath=['dummy_group:dummy_artifact:dummy_version'])
+
         self.assertEqual(
             service._default_args(),
             [
                 '{{PORT}}',
-                '--filesToStage=main.jar,a1.jar,b.jar,'
-                'https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2/org/'
-                'postgresql/postgresql/42.2.16/postgresql-42.2.16.jar'
+                '--filesToStage=main.jar,dummy_artifact-dummy_version.jar'
             ])
+      finally:
+        os.chdir(oldwd)
+
+  def test_classpath_with_glob(self):
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+      try:
+        # Avoid having to prefix everything in our test strings.
+        oldwd = os.getcwd()
+        os.chdir(temp_dir)
+        # Touch some files for globing.
+        with open('a1.jar', 'w') as _:
+          pass
+
+        service = JavaJarExpansionService(
+            'main.jar', classpath=['a*.jar', 'b.jar'])
+        self.assertEqual(
+            service._default_args(),
+            ['{{PORT}}', '--filesToStage=main.jar,a1.jar,b.jar'])
 
       finally:
         os.chdir(oldwd)