diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.core.io.net/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/io/net/http/HttpUtil.java b/bundles/org.openhab.core.io.net/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/io/net/http/HttpUtil.java
index d7ab50b5778..82d02334464 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.core.io.net/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/io/net/http/HttpUtil.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.core.io.net/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/io/net/http/HttpUtil.java
@@ -314,9 +314,9 @@ private static boolean shouldUseProxy(String urlString, String nonProxyHosts) {
             String givenHost = urlString;
 
             try {
-                URL url = new URL(urlString);
+                URL url = (new URI(urlString)).toURL();
                 givenHost = url.getHost();
-            } catch (MalformedURLException e) {
+            } catch (MalformedURLException | URISyntaxException e) {
                 LOGGER.error("the given url {} is malformed", urlString);
             }