diff --git a/lib/jekyll/url.rb b/lib/jekyll/url.rb
index 310d9e43..964c619d 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/url.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/url.rb
@@ -52,19 +52,19 @@ module Jekyll
 
     # Returns a sanitized String URL
     def sanitize_url(in_url)
+      url = in_url
+        # Remove all double slashes
+        .tr('//', '/') \
 
-      # Remove all double slashes
-      url = in_url.gsub(/\/\//, "/")
+        # Remove every URL segment that consists solely of dots
+        .split('/').reject{ |part| part =~ /^\.+$/ }.join('/') \
 
-      # Remove every URL segment that consists solely of dots
-      url = url.split('/').reject{ |part| part =~ /^\.+$/ }.join('/')
+        # Always add a leading slash
+        .gsub(/\A([^\/])/, '/\1')
 
       # Append a trailing slash to the URL if the unsanitized URL had one
       url += "/" if in_url =~ /\/$/
 
-      # Always add a leading slash
-      url.gsub!(/\A([^\/])/, '/\1')
-
       url
     end