diff --git a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/mojo/versions/api/DefaultVersionsHelper.java b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/mojo/versions/api/DefaultVersionsHelper.java
index 46a82f7a8..1477e6a38 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/mojo/versions/api/DefaultVersionsHelper.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/mojo/versions/api/DefaultVersionsHelper.java
@@ -400,10 +400,7 @@ private static RuleSet getRulesViaWagon(String rulesUri, Log logger, String serv
     }
 
     static boolean isClasspathUri(String uri) {
-        boolean startsWithProtocol = null != uri && uri.startsWith(CLASSPATH_PROTOCOL);
-        boolean hasColonNext = null != uri && uri.charAt(CLASSPATH_PROTOCOL.length()) == ':';
-
-        return startsWithProtocol && hasColonNext;
+        return (uri != null && uri.startsWith(CLASSPATH_PROTOCOL + ":"));
     }
 
     /**