diff --git a/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
index 840a39e42d0..37bb2d28069 100644
--- a/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
@@ -874,9 +874,12 @@ void HelpPlugin::activateContext()
         links = HelpManager::linksForIdentifier(m_idFromContext);
         if (links.isEmpty()) {
             // Maybe this is already an URL...
-            QUrl url(m_idFromContext);
-            if (url.isValid())
-                links.insert(m_idFromContext, m_idFromContext);
+            // Require protocol specifier, otherwise most strings would be 'local file names'
+            if (m_idFromContext.contains(QLatin1Char(':'))) {
+                QUrl url(m_idFromContext);
+                if (url.isValid())
+                    links.insert(m_idFromContext, m_idFromContext);
+            }
         }
     }