diff --git a/lib/logstash/inputs/kafka.rb b/lib/logstash/inputs/kafka.rb
index 6c4df02f..fabf4ab4 100644
--- a/lib/logstash/inputs/kafka.rb
+++ b/lib/logstash/inputs/kafka.rb
@@ -446,7 +446,8 @@ def create_consumer(client_id, group_instance_id)
         props.put(serdes_config::SCHEMA_REGISTRY_URL_CONFIG, schema_registry_url.uri.to_s)
         if schema_registry_proxy && !schema_registry_proxy.empty?
           props.put(serdes_config::PROXY_HOST, @schema_registry_proxy_host)
-          props.put(serdes_config::PROXY_PORT, @schema_registry_proxy_port)
+          # Java Kafka client requires port to be a 32 bit int
+          props.put(serdes_config::PROXY_PORT, @schema_registry_proxy_port.to_java(Java::int))
         end
         if schema_registry_key && !schema_registry_key.empty?
           props.put(serdes_config::BASIC_AUTH_CREDENTIALS_SOURCE, 'USER_INFO')
diff --git a/lib/logstash/plugin_mixins/kafka/avro_schema_registry.rb b/lib/logstash/plugin_mixins/kafka/avro_schema_registry.rb
index 670231f6..5561087a 100644
--- a/lib/logstash/plugin_mixins/kafka/avro_schema_registry.rb
+++ b/lib/logstash/plugin_mixins/kafka/avro_schema_registry.rb
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def setup_schema_registry_config
 
       # Option to set the proxy of the Schema Registry.
       # This option permits to define a proxy to be used to reach the schema registry service instance.
-      config :schema_registry_proxy, :validate => :uri
+      config :schema_registry_proxy, :validate => :string
 
       # If schema registry client authentication is required, this setting stores the keystore path.
       config :schema_registry_ssl_keystore_location, :validate => :string
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ def check_for_schema_registry_conflicts
     private
     def check_for_schema_registry_connectivity_and_subjects
       options = {}
-      if schema_registry_proxy && !schema_registry_proxy.empty?
-        options[:proxy] = schema_registry_proxy.to_s
+      if @schema_registry_proxy_host
+        options[:proxy] = { host: @schema_registry_proxy_host, port: @schema_registry_proxy_port }
       end
       if schema_registry_key and !schema_registry_key.empty?
         options[:auth] = {:user => schema_registry_key, :password => schema_registry_secret.value}
@@ -99,13 +99,7 @@ def check_for_schema_registry_connectivity_and_subjects
         options[:ssl][:keystore_type] = schema_registry_ssl_keystore_type unless schema_registry_ssl_keystore_type.nil?
       end
 
-      client = Manticore::Client.new(options)
-      begin
-        response = client.get(@schema_registry_url.uri.to_s + '/subjects').body
-      rescue Manticore::ManticoreException => e
-        raise LogStash::ConfigurationError.new("Schema registry service doesn't respond, error: #{e.message}")
-      end
-      registered_subjects = JSON.parse response
+      registered_subjects = retrieve_subjects(options)
       expected_subjects = @topics.map { |t| "#{t}-value"}
       if (expected_subjects & registered_subjects).size != expected_subjects.size
         undefined_topic_subjects = expected_subjects - registered_subjects
@@ -113,18 +107,23 @@ def check_for_schema_registry_connectivity_and_subjects
       end
     end
 
+    def retrieve_subjects(options)
+      client = Manticore::Client.new(options)
+      response = client.get(@schema_registry_url.uri.to_s + '/subjects').body
+      JSON.parse response
+    rescue Manticore::ManticoreException => e
+      raise LogStash::ConfigurationError.new("Schema registry service doesn't respond, error: #{e.message}")
+    end
+
     def split_proxy_into_host_and_port(proxy_uri)
       return nil unless proxy_uri && !proxy_uri.empty?
 
-      port = proxy_uri.port
+      proxy_uri = LogStash::Util::SafeURI.new(proxy_uri)
 
-      host_spec = ""
-      host_spec << proxy_uri.scheme || "http"
-      host_spec << "://"
-      host_spec << "#{proxy_uri.userinfo}@" if proxy_uri.userinfo
-      host_spec << proxy_uri.host
+      port = proxy_uri.port
+      host = proxy_uri.host
 
-      [host_spec, port]
+      [host, port]
     end
 
     def check_for_key_and_secret
diff --git a/spec/unit/inputs/kafka_spec.rb b/spec/unit/inputs/kafka_spec.rb
index 4fbb5ae6..c1b60864 100644
--- a/spec/unit/inputs/kafka_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/inputs/kafka_spec.rb
@@ -287,6 +287,22 @@
         end
       end
     end
+    context "when schema_registry_proxy is enabled" do
+      let(:schema_registry_proxy_url) { "http://myproxy:3333" }
+      let(:config) { base_config.merge('schema_registry_proxy' => schema_registry_proxy_url) }
+
+      it "doesn't raise error on register" do
+        expect(subject).to receive(:check_for_schema_registry_connectivity_and_subjects)
+        expect { subject.register }.to_not raise_error
+      end
+
+      it "extracts the correct proxy host and port" do
+        expect(subject).to receive(:check_for_schema_registry_connectivity_and_subjects)
+        subject.register
+        expect(subject.instance_variable_get('@schema_registry_proxy_host')).to eq('myproxy')
+        expect(subject.instance_variable_get('@schema_registry_proxy_port')).to eq(3333)
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   context "decorate_events" do