diff --git a/packages/@vue/cli-service/__tests__/Service.spec.js b/packages/@vue/cli-service/__tests__/Service.spec.js
index e11de4658a..f145090c92 100644
--- a/packages/@vue/cli-service/__tests__/Service.spec.js
+++ b/packages/@vue/cli-service/__tests__/Service.spec.js
@@ -104,6 +104,16 @@ test('normalize publicPath when relative', () => {
   expect(service.projectOptions.publicPath).toBe('foo/bar/')
 })
 
+test('allow custom protocol in publicPath', () => {
+  mockPkg({
+    vue: {
+      publicPath: 'customprotocol://foo/bar'
+    }
+  })
+  const service = createMockService()
+  expect(service.projectOptions.publicPath).toBe('customprotocol://foo/bar/')
+})
+
 test('keep publicPath when empty', () => {
   mockPkg({
     vue: {
diff --git a/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/Service.js b/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/Service.js
index 525a00faac..e055b0a2fb 100644
--- a/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/Service.js
+++ b/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/Service.js
@@ -395,11 +395,8 @@ module.exports = class Service {
 }
 
 function ensureSlash (config, key) {
-  let val = config[key]
+  const val = config[key]
   if (typeof val === 'string') {
-    if (!/^https?:/.test(val)) {
-      val = val.replace(/^([^/.])/, '/$1')
-    }
     config[key] = val.replace(/([^/])$/, '$1/')
   }
 }