diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index 36b98806b..5894c07c7 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -27,11 +27,6 @@ Fixed bugs:
    cannot determine the local hostname.
    Bugzilla Report 56593
 
- * URLResource#getLastModified tried to access the connection to the
-   URL without making sure it was established, potentially leading to
-   a NullPointerException.
-   Bugzilla Report 56873
-
 Other changes:
 --------------
 
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/resources/URLResource.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/resources/URLResource.java
index ab564ca62..a1439080a 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/resources/URLResource.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/resources/URLResource.java
@@ -263,16 +263,10 @@ public class URLResource extends Resource implements URLProvider {
             return ((Resource) getCheckedRef()).getLastModified();
         }
         if (!isExists(false)) {
-            return 0L;
-        }
-        try {
-            connect();
-            long lastModified = conn.getLastModified();
-            close();
-            return lastModified;
-        } catch (IOException e) {
             return UNKNOWN_DATETIME;
         }
+        // isExists has already opened the connection
+        return conn.getLastModified();
     }
 
     /**