diff --git a/nucleus/common/common-util/src/main/java/com/sun/enterprise/loader/ASURLClassLoader.java b/nucleus/common/common-util/src/main/java/com/sun/enterprise/loader/ASURLClassLoader.java
index fe088499103..5accf9593c1 100644
--- a/nucleus/common/common-util/src/main/java/com/sun/enterprise/loader/ASURLClassLoader.java
+++ b/nucleus/common/common-util/src/main/java/com/sun/enterprise/loader/ASURLClassLoader.java
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
  * only if the new code is made subject to such option by the copyright
  * holder.
  */
- // Portions Copyright [2016-2023] [Payara Foundation and/or its affiliates]
+ // Portions Copyright [2016-2024] [Payara Foundation and/or its affiliates]
 
 package com.sun.enterprise.loader;
 
@@ -613,12 +613,17 @@ private byte[] loadClassData0(final URLEntry res, final String entryName) {
         return AccessController.doPrivileged((PrivilegedAction<byte[]>) () -> {
             try {
                 if (res.isJar) { // It is a jarfile..
-                    JarFile zip = res.zip;
-                    JarFile jar = new JarFile(res.file, false, JarFile.OPEN_READ,
-                            Runtime.Version.parse(System.getProperty("java.version")));
-                    JarEntry entry = jar.getJarEntry(entryName);
+                    JarEntry entry;
+                    if (res.zip.isMultiRelease()) {
+                        // optimization, the below op takes time, so avoid it as necessary
+                        JarFile jar = new JarFile(res.file, false, JarFile.OPEN_READ,
+                                Runtime.Version.parse(System.getProperty("java.version")));
+                        entry = jar.getJarEntry(entryName);
+                    } else {
+                        entry = res.zip.getJarEntry(entryName);
+                    }
                     if (entry != null) {
-                        byte[] classData = getClassData(zip.getInputStream(entry));
+                        byte[] classData = getClassData(res.zip.getInputStream(entry));
                         res.setProtectionDomain(ASURLClassLoader.this, entry.getCertificates());
                         return classData;
                     }