diff --git a/libraries.module b/libraries.module
index c67ce79..4e17fcf 100644
--- a/libraries.module
+++ b/libraries.module
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ function libraries_detect($name) {
   if (!isset($library['library path'])) {
     $library['library path'] = libraries_get_path($library['machine name']);
   }
-  if ($library['library path'] === FALSE || !file_exists($library['library path'])) {
+  if ($library['library path'] === FALSE || (!url_is_external($library['library path']) && !file_exists($library['library path']))) {
     $library['error'] = 'not found';
     $library['error message'] = t('The %library library could not be found.', array(
       '%library' => $library['name'],
@@ -727,8 +727,9 @@ function libraries_get_version($library, $options) {
     'cols' => 200,
   );
 
-  $file = DRUPAL_ROOT . '/' . $library['library path'] . '/' . $options['file'];
-  if (empty($options['file']) || !file_exists($file)) {
+  $external = url_is_external($library['library path']);
+  $file = (!$external ? DRUPAL_ROOT . '/' : '') . $library['library path'] . '/' . $options['file'];
+  if (empty($options['file']) || (!$external && !file_exists($file))) {
     return;
   }
   $file = fopen($file, 'r');