diff --git a/sdk/jme3-core/src/com/jme3/gde/core/assets/ProjectAssetManager.java b/sdk/jme3-core/src/com/jme3/gde/core/assets/ProjectAssetManager.java
index 13f7c3268..8350de9d5 100644
--- a/sdk/jme3-core/src/com/jme3/gde/core/assets/ProjectAssetManager.java
+++ b/sdk/jme3-core/src/com/jme3/gde/core/assets/ProjectAssetManager.java
@@ -104,12 +104,18 @@ public class ProjectAssetManager extends DesktopAssetManager {
         String prefix = getAssetFolderName();
         int idx = absolutePath.indexOf(prefix);
         if (idx == 0) {
-            System.out.println("absolute/prefix:"+absolutePath+" / "+prefix);
-            return absolutePath.substring(prefix.length() + 1);
+            return stripFirstSlash(absolutePath.substring(prefix.length()));
         }
         return absolutePath;
     }
 
+    private String stripFirstSlash(String input) {
+        if (input.startsWith("/")) {
+            return input.substring(1);
+        }
+        return input;
+    }
+
     @Deprecated
     public AssetManager getManager() {
         return this;