diff --git a/compiler/core/src/zserio/tools/ExtensionManager.java b/compiler/core/src/zserio/tools/ExtensionManager.java
index 8ad20a5ed..9188cac25 100644
--- a/compiler/core/src/zserio/tools/ExtensionManager.java
+++ b/compiler/core/src/zserio/tools/ExtensionManager.java
@@ -144,10 +144,23 @@ private File getWorkingDirectory()
     {
         try
         {
-            final URL execUrl = getClass().getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation();
-            System.out.println("execUrl = " + execUrl);
-            final String decodedExecUrlPath = URLDecoder.decode(execUrl.getPath(), "UTF-8");
-            final File decodedExecFile = new File(new URI(decodedExecUrlPath));
+            final String execUrlPath = getClass().getProtectionDomain().getCodeSource().getLocation().getPath();
+            final String decodedExecUrlPath = URLDecoder.decode(execUrlPath, "UTF-8");
+            // check if decodedExecUrlPath is really URL, newer Java versions 11 or 17 returns normal path
+            System.out.println("decodedExecUrlPath = " + decodedExecUrlPath);
+            File decodedExecFile = null;
+            try
+            {
+                decodedExecFile = new File(new URI(decodedExecUrlPath));
+            }
+            catch (URISyntaxException | IllegalArgumentException excpt)
+            {
+                decodedExecFile = new File(decodedExecUrlPath);
+            }
+            if (decodedExecFile.getPath().startsWith("file:"))
+            {
+                decodedExecFile = new File(decodedExecFile.getPath().replaceFirst("^file:", ""));
+            }
 
             System.out.println("decodedExecFile = " + decodedExecFile);
             System.out.println("decodedExecFile.getParentFile() = " + decodedExecFile.getParentFile());
@@ -156,7 +169,7 @@ private File getWorkingDirectory()
 
             return decodedExecFile.getParentFile();
         }
-        catch (SecurityException | URISyntaxException | UnsupportedEncodingException excpt)
+        catch (SecurityException | UnsupportedEncodingException excpt)
         {
             return null;
         }