diff --git a/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh b/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
index 9a8932702..0059249e2 100644
--- a/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/jira/jira.plugin.zsh
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # To use: add a .jira-url file in the base of your project
 #         You can also set JIRA_URL in your .zshrc or put .jira-url in your home directory
-#         .jira-url in the current directory takes precedence
+#         .jira-url in the current directory takes precedence. The same goes with .jira-prefix
+#         and JIRA_PREFIX.
 #
 # If you use Rapid Board, set:
 #JIRA_RAPID_BOARD="true"
@@ -15,17 +16,20 @@ open_jira_issue () {
     jira_url=$(cat .jira-url)
   elif [ -f ~/.jira-url ]; then
     jira_url=$(cat ~/.jira-url)
-  elif [[ "x$JIRA_URL" != "x" ]]; then
-    jira_url=$JIRA_URL
+  elif [[ "${JIRA_URL}" != "" ]]; then
+    jira_url=${JIRA_URL}
   else
     echo "JIRA url is not specified anywhere."
     return 1
   fi
 
+  local jira_prefix
   if [ -f .jira-prefix ]; then
     jira_prefix=$(cat .jira-prefix)
   elif [ -f ~/.jira-prefix ]; then
     jira_prefix=$(cat ~/.jira-prefix)
+  elif [[ "${JIRA_PREFIX}" != "" ]]; then
+    jira_prefix=${JIRA_PREFIX}
   else
     jira_prefix=""
   fi
@@ -35,7 +39,7 @@ open_jira_issue () {
     open_command "${jira_url}/secure/CreateIssue!default.jspa"
   elif [[ "$1" = "assigned" || "$1" = "reported" ]]; then
     jira_query $@
-  else 
+  else
     local addcomment=''
     if [[ "$2" == "m" ]]; then
       addcomment="#add-comment"
@@ -43,18 +47,17 @@ open_jira_issue () {
     else
       echo "Opening issue #$1"
     fi
-    
-    if [[ "x$JIRA_RAPID_BOARD" = "xtrue" ]]; then
-      open_command  "$jira_url/issues/$jira_prefix$1$addcomment"
+    if [[ "$JIRA_RAPID_BOARD" == "true" ]]; then
+      open_command "${jira_url}/issues/${jira_prefix}${1}${addcomment}"
     else
-      open_command  "$jira_url/browse/$jira_prefix$1$addcomment"
+      open_command "${jira_url}/browse/${jira_prefix}${1}${addcomment}"
     fi
   fi
 }
 
 jira_name () {
   if [[ -z "$1" ]]; then
-    if [[ "x${JIRA_NAME}" != "x" ]]; then
+    if [[ "${JIRA_NAME}" != "" ]]; then
       jira_name=${JIRA_NAME}
     else
       echo "JIRA_NAME not specified"
@@ -66,24 +69,25 @@ jira_name () {
 }
 
 jira_query () {
-    verb="$1"
-    if [[ "${verb}" = "reported" ]]; then
-      lookup=reporter
-      preposition=by
-    elif [[ "${verb}" = "assigned" ]]; then
-      lookup=assignee
-      preposition=to
-    else
-      echo "not a valid lookup $verb"
-      return 1
-    fi
-    shift 1
-    jira_name $@
-    if [[ $? = 1 ]]; then
-        return 1
-    fi
-    echo "Browsing issues ${verb} ${preposition} ${jira_name}"
-    open_command "${jira_url}/secure/IssueNavigator.jspa?reset=true&jqlQuery=${lookup}+%3D+%22${jira_name}%22+AND+resolution+%3D+unresolved+ORDER+BY+priority+DESC%2C+created+ASC"
+  local verb="$1"
+  local jira_name lookup preposition
+  if [[ "${verb}" = "reported" ]]; then
+    lookup=reporter
+    preposition=by
+  elif [[ "${verb}" = "assigned" ]]; then
+    lookup=assignee
+    preposition=to
+  else
+    echo "not a valid lookup $verb"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  shift 1
+  jira_name $@
+  if [[ $? = 1 ]]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  echo "Browsing issues ${verb} ${preposition} ${jira_name}"
+  open_command "${jira_url}/secure/IssueNavigator.jspa?reset=true&jqlQuery=${lookup}+%3D+%22${jira_name}%22+AND+resolution+%3D+unresolved+ORDER+BY+priority+DESC%2C+created+ASC"
 }
 
 alias jira='open_jira_issue'