diff --git a/javase/src/com/google/zxing/client/j2se/GUIRunner.java b/javase/src/com/google/zxing/client/j2se/GUIRunner.java
index a93a5c237..d8d8633c9 100644
--- a/javase/src/com/google/zxing/client/j2se/GUIRunner.java
+++ b/javase/src/com/google/zxing/client/j2se/GUIRunner.java
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public final class GUIRunner extends JFrame {
     File file = fileChooser.getSelectedFile();
     ImageIcon imageIcon;
     try {
-      imageIcon = new ImageIcon(file.toURL());
+      imageIcon = new ImageIcon(file.toURI().toURL());
     } catch (MalformedURLException mue) {
       throw new RuntimeException(mue);
     }