diff --git a/server/gitea/client.go b/server/gitea/client.go
index 5955bfb..3abb487 100644
--- a/server/gitea/client.go
+++ b/server/gitea/client.go
@@ -57,12 +57,13 @@ type Client struct {
 	defaultMimeType    string
 }
 
-func NewClient(cfg config.GiteaConfig, respCache cache.ICache) (*Client, error) {
-	rootURL, err := url.Parse(cfg.Root)
+func NewClient(cfg config.ForgeConfig, respCache cache.ICache) (*Client, error) {
+	// url.Parse returns valid on almost anything...
+	rootURL, err := url.ParseRequestURI(cfg.Root)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid forgejo/gitea root url: %w", err)
 	}
-	giteaRoot := strings.Trim(rootURL.String(), "/")
+	giteaRoot := strings.TrimSuffix(rootURL.String(), "/")
 
 	stdClient := http.Client{Timeout: 10 * time.Second}