diff --git a/json-path/src/main/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/internal/path/PathCompiler.java b/json-path/src/main/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/internal/path/PathCompiler.java
index ec3f4a7a..934770e9 100644
--- a/json-path/src/main/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/internal/path/PathCompiler.java
+++ b/json-path/src/main/java/com/jayway/jsonpath/internal/path/PathCompiler.java
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ public class PathCompiler {
                     continue;
                 }
 
-                if (c == OPEN_BRACE || isDigit(c) || DOUBLE_QUOTE == c || MINUS == c) {
+                if (isJsonParam(c)) {
                     type = ParamType.JSON;
                 }
                 else if (isPathContext(c)) {
@@ -388,6 +388,12 @@ public class PathCompiler {
         return parameters;
     }
 
+    private boolean isJsonParam(char c) {
+        
+        return c == OPEN_BRACE || Character.isDigit(c) || c == DOUBLE_QUOTE || c == MINUS;
+
+    }
+
     private boolean isWhitespace(char c) {
         return (c == SPACE || c == TAB || c == LF || c == CR);
     }