diff --git a/json-unit-core/src/main/java/net/javacrumbs/jsonunit/core/internal/PathMatcher.java b/json-unit-core/src/main/java/net/javacrumbs/jsonunit/core/internal/PathMatcher.java
index ef8024a1..9d7e1e41 100644
--- a/json-unit-core/src/main/java/net/javacrumbs/jsonunit/core/internal/PathMatcher.java
+++ b/json-unit-core/src/main/java/net/javacrumbs/jsonunit/core/internal/PathMatcher.java
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ private static class SimplePathMatcher extends PathMatcher {
         @Override
         boolean matches(String pathToMatch) {
             return path.equals(pathToMatch)
-                    || ((path.startsWith("$.") || path.startsWith("$["))
-                            && path.substring(2).equals(pathToMatch));
+                    || (path.startsWith("$.") && path.substring(2).equals(pathToMatch))
+                    || (path.startsWith("$[") && path.substring(1).equals(pathToMatch));
         }
     }