diff --git a/lib/jekyll/filters/url_filters.rb b/lib/jekyll/filters/url_filters.rb
index e907c91b..de700aa7 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/filters/url_filters.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/filters/url_filters.rb
@@ -32,12 +32,8 @@ module Jekyll
 
       private
       def ensure_leading_slash(input)
-        return input if input.nil? || input.empty?
-        if input.start_with?("/")
-          input
-        else
-          "/#{input}"
-        end
+        return input if input.nil? || input.empty? || input.start_with?("/")
+        "/#{input}"
       end
 
     end