diff --git a/independent-projects/bootstrap/runner/src/main/java/io/quarkus/bootstrap/runner/RunnerClassLoader.java b/independent-projects/bootstrap/runner/src/main/java/io/quarkus/bootstrap/runner/RunnerClassLoader.java
index 053f4e32e5849..ecaa699dcb078 100644
--- a/independent-projects/bootstrap/runner/src/main/java/io/quarkus/bootstrap/runner/RunnerClassLoader.java
+++ b/independent-projects/bootstrap/runner/src/main/java/io/quarkus/bootstrap/runner/RunnerClassLoader.java
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ protected URL findResource(String name) {
     }
 
     private String sanitizeName(final String name) {
-        if (name.charAt(0) == '/') {
+        if (name.length() > 0 && name.charAt(0) == '/') {
             return name.substring(1);
         }
         return name;