diff --git a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/bestpractices/AvoidUsingHardCodedIPRule.java b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/bestpractices/AvoidUsingHardCodedIPRule.java
index 55336967f0..abda97d238 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/bestpractices/AvoidUsingHardCodedIPRule.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/bestpractices/AvoidUsingHardCodedIPRule.java
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ public class AvoidUsingHardCodedIPRule extends AbstractJavaRule {
     }
 
     protected boolean isHexCharacter(char c) {
-        return isLatinDigit(c) || 'A' <= c && c <= 'F' || 'a' <= c && c <= 'f';
+        return isLatinDigit(c) || ('A' <= c && c <= 'F') || ('a' <= c && c <= 'f');
     }
 
     protected boolean isIPv4(final char firstChar, final String s) {
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ public class AvoidUsingHardCodedIPRule extends AbstractJavaRule {
                     }
                 } catch (NumberFormatException e) {
                     // The last part can be a standard IPv4 address.
-                    if (i != parts.length - 1 || !isIPv4(firstChar, part)) {
+                    if (i != parts.length - 1 || !isIPv4(part.charAt(0), part)) {
                         return false;
                     }
                     ipv4Mapped = true;