diff --git a/plugins/urlparse.py b/plugins/urlparse.py
index b4f47d5..5fc63dc 100755
--- a/plugins/urlparse.py
+++ b/plugins/urlparse.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ def get_title(url):
     url = urlnorm.normalize(url.encode('utf-8'))
     url = url.decode('utf-8')
     # add http if its missing
-    if not url.startswith("http"):
+    if not "://" in url:
         url = "http://" + url
     try:
         # get the title
diff --git a/plugins/util/web.py b/plugins/util/web.py
index 1c550b5..f3d9700 100755
--- a/plugins/util/web.py
+++ b/plugins/util/web.py
@@ -14,9 +14,7 @@ class ShortenError(Exception):
 
 def bitly(url, user, api_key):
     """ shortens a URL with the bit.ly API """
-    if url[:8] == "https://":
-        pass
-    elif url[:7] != "http://":
+    if not "://" in url:
         url = "http://" + url
     params = urlencode({'longUrl': url, 'login': user, 'apiKey': api_key,
                         'format': 'json'})