diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
index dbfea25742..aef9b8378c 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ $.widget.bridge = function( name, object ) {
 			options;
 
 		// prevent calls to internal methods
-		if ( isMethodCall && options.substring( 0, 1 ) === "_" ) {
+		if ( isMethodCall && options.charAt( 0 ) === "_" ) {
 			return returnValue;
 		}