diff --git a/src/ajax.js b/src/ajax.js
index 6414e8c29..4714afdae 100644
--- a/src/ajax.js
+++ b/src/ajax.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ var r20 = /%20/g,
 	rucHeadersFunc = function( _, $1, $2 ) {
 		return $1 + $2.toUpperCase();
 	},
-	rurl = /^([\w\+\.\-]+:)\/\/([^\/?#:]*)(?::(\d+))?/,
+	rurl = /^([\w\+\.\-]+:)(?:\/\/([^\/?#:]*)(?::(\d+))?|\/[^\/])/,
 
 	// Keep a copy of the old load method
 	_load = jQuery.fn.load,
diff --git a/test/unit/ajax.js b/test/unit/ajax.js
index 335c2ac4d..4ce15f8f3 100644
--- a/test/unit/ajax.js
+++ b/test/unit/ajax.js
@@ -2239,6 +2239,18 @@ test("jQuery.ajax - active counter", function() {
     ok( jQuery.active == 0, "ajax active counter should be zero: " + jQuery.active );
 });
 
+test("jQuery.ajax - compatible with AIR urls"), function() {
+	expect( 1 );
+	stop();
+	$.ajax({
+		url: "app:/testing",
+		beforeSend: function() {
+			ok( this.crossDomain, "Detected crossDomain for AIR Url" );
+			return false;
+		}
+	});
+});
+
 }
 
 //}
\ No newline at end of file