diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/io/ClassPathResource.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/io/ClassPathResource.java
index c618dfddbd61..2dde2a2cf071 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/io/ClassPathResource.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/io/ClassPathResource.java
@@ -148,14 +148,19 @@ public boolean exists() {
 	 */
 	@Nullable
 	protected URL resolveURL() {
-		if (this.clazz != null) {
-			return this.clazz.getResource(this.path);
-		}
-		else if (this.classLoader != null) {
-			return this.classLoader.getResource(this.path);
+		try {
+			if (this.clazz != null) {
+				return this.clazz.getResource(this.path);
+			}
+			else if (this.classLoader != null) {
+				return this.classLoader.getResource(this.path);
+			}
+			else {
+				return ClassLoader.getSystemResource(this.path);
+			}
 		}
-		else {
-			return ClassLoader.getSystemResource(this.path);
+		catch (IllegalArgumentException ex) {
+			return null;
 		}
 	}