--- old/src/java.net.http/share/classes/jdk/internal/net/http/HttpRequestBuilderImpl.java	2018-12-06 17:53:28.817556882 -0500
+++ new/src/java.net.http/share/classes/jdk/internal/net/http/HttpRequestBuilderImpl.java	2018-12-06 17:53:28.645556029 -0500
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@
     @Override
     public HttpRequest.Builder method(String method, BodyPublisher body) {
         requireNonNull(method);
-        if (method.equals(""))
+        if (method.isEmpty())
             throw newIAE("illegal method <empty string>");
         if (method.equals("CONNECT"))
             throw newIAE("method CONNECT is not supported");
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
 
     private HttpRequest.Builder method0(String method, BodyPublisher body) {
         assert method != null;
-        assert !method.equals("");
+        assert !method.isEmpty();
         this.method = method;
         this.bodyPublisher = body;
         return this;