diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
index 143946309..4d4b590f6 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ class HintManager(QObject):
         env = {
             'QUTE_MODE': 'hints',
             'QUTE_SELECTED_TEXT': str(elem),
-            'QUTE_SELECTED_HTML': elem.toOuterXml(),
+            'QUTE_SELECTED_HTML': elem.outer_xml(),
         }
         url = self._resolve_url(elem, context.baseurl)
         if url is not None:
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webelem.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webelem.py
index a94652669..594237e6e 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webelem.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webelem.py
@@ -339,6 +339,11 @@ class WebElementWrapper(collections.abc.MutableMapping):
         self._check_vanished()
         return utils.compact_text(self._elem.toOuterXml(), 500)
 
+    def outer_xml(self):
+        """Get the full HTML representation of this element."""
+        self._check_vanished()
+        return self._elem.toOuterXml()
+
     def tag_name(self):
         """Get the tag name for the current element."""
         self._check_vanished()