diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandpay.java b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandpay.java
index 562bb7633ff..5507950d5d6 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandpay.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandpay.java
@@ -38,11 +38,12 @@ public void run(final Server server, final User user, final String commandLabel,
             throw new NotEnoughArgumentsException();
         }
 
-        if (args[1].startsWith("-")) {
+        final String amountStr = args[1];
+        if (amountStr.startsWith("-")) {
             throw new Exception(tl("payMustBePositive"));
         }
 
-        final Matcher formatMatcher = NUMBER_FORMAT.matcher(args[1]);
+        final Matcher formatMatcher = NUMBER_FORMAT.matcher(amountStr);
         if (!formatMatcher.matches()) {
             throw new Exception(tl("numberRequired"));
         }