diff --git a/system/helpers/url_helper.php b/system/helpers/url_helper.php
index d2d2a59..03d6c3b 100644
--- a/system/helpers/url_helper.php
+++ b/system/helpers/url_helper.php
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
  */	
 function anchor($uri = '', $title = '', $attributes = '')
 {
-	$site_url = site_url($uri);
+	$site_url = ( ! preg_match('!^\w+://!i', $uri)) ? site_url($uri) : $uri;
 	
 	if ($title == '')
 	{
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@
  */
 function anchor_popup($uri = '', $title = '', $attributes = FALSE)
 {	
-	$site_url = site_url($uri);
+	$site_url = ( ! preg_match('!^\w+://!i', $uri)) ? site_url($uri) : $uri;
 	
 	if ($title == '')
 	{