diff --git a/templates/build.gradle b/templates/build.gradle
index 3e2613d76a2..2aa78b24067 100644
--- a/templates/build.gradle
+++ b/templates/build.gradle
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@ buildscript {
             if (rootProject.hasProperty("alternativeResolutionRepo")) {
                 // If the user supplies an alternative repo via gradle.properties then use that
                 name = "from alternativeResolutionRepo property"
-                url =  URI(rootProject.properties["alternativeResolutionRepo"] as String)
+                url =  rootProject.properties["alternativeResolutionRepo"]
             } else if (repoViaEnv != null && repoViaEnv != "") {
                 name = "from \$RESOLUTION_REPO"
-                url = URI(repoViaEnv)
+                url = repoViaEnv
             } else {
                 // Our default is the main virtual repo containing everything except repos for testing Artifactory itself
                 name = "Terasology Artifactory"
-                url = URI("https://artifactory.terasology.io/artifactory/virtual-repo-live")
+                url = "https://artifactory.terasology.io/artifactory/virtual-repo-live"
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/templates/facades.gradle b/templates/facades.gradle
index 227d93e3d6f..1f9ae7a779d 100644
--- a/templates/facades.gradle
+++ b/templates/facades.gradle
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@ repositories {
         if (rootProject.hasProperty("alternativeResolutionRepo")) {
             // If the user supplies an alternative repo via gradle.properties then use that
             name = "from alternativeResolutionRepo property"
-            url =  URI(rootProject.properties["alternativeResolutionRepo"] as String)
+            url =  rootProject.properties["alternativeResolutionRepo"]
         } else if (repoViaEnv != null && repoViaEnv != "") {
             name = "from \$RESOLUTION_REPO"
-            url = URI(repoViaEnv)
+            url = repoViaEnv
         } else {
             // Our default is the main virtual repo containing everything except repos for testing Artifactory itself
             name = "Terasology Artifactory"
-            url = URI("https://artifactory.terasology.io/artifactory/virtual-repo-live")
+            url = "https://artifactory.terasology.io/artifactory/virtual-repo-live"
         }
     }
 }