diff --git a/networking/httpd.c b/networking/httpd.c
index 1934bb27e..b46eb0fab 100644
--- a/networking/httpd.c
+++ b/networking/httpd.c
@@ -1964,7 +1964,9 @@ static void handle_incoming_and_exit(const len_and_sockaddr *fromAddr)
 		send_headers_and_exit(HTTP_BAD_REQUEST);
 
 	/* Determine type of request (GET/POST) */
-	urlp = strpbrk(iobuf, " \t");
+	// rfc2616: method and URI is separated by exactly one space
+	//urlp = strpbrk(iobuf, " \t"); - no, tab isn't allowed
+	urlp = strchr(iobuf, ' ');
 	if (urlp == NULL)
 		send_headers_and_exit(HTTP_BAD_REQUEST);
 	*urlp++ = '\0';
@@ -1982,7 +1984,8 @@ static void handle_incoming_and_exit(const len_and_sockaddr *fromAddr)
 	if (strcasecmp(iobuf, request_GET) != 0)
 		send_headers_and_exit(HTTP_NOT_IMPLEMENTED);
 #endif
-	urlp = skip_whitespace(urlp);
+	// rfc2616: method and URI is separated by exactly one space
+	//urlp = skip_whitespace(urlp); - should not be necessary
 	if (urlp[0] != '/')
 		send_headers_and_exit(HTTP_BAD_REQUEST);