diff --git a/doc/BUGS b/doc/BUGS
index ebf16ba11..389e04ba8 100644
--- a/doc/BUGS
+++ b/doc/BUGS
@@ -17,10 +17,6 @@ Bugs
 - Segfaults when trying to load http://cmpl.cc/downloads/hlwm-tablet.mkv and
   with youtube HTML5 player.
 
-- URL detection and encoded spaces
-
-  e.g. when trying to open a link with %20 interactively, or even via click.
-
 - When quitting while being asked for a download filename: segfault / memory
   corruption
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index 64c6fdd1a..4fcf6c426 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -457,19 +457,19 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
     @cmdutils.register(instance='mainwindow.tabs.cmd', hide=True)
     def open_tab_cur(self):
         """Set the statusbar to :tabopen and the current URL."""
-        urlstr = self._current_url().toDisplayString()
+        urlstr = self._current_url().toDisplayString(QUrl.FullyEncoded)
         message.set_cmd_text(':open-tab ' + urlstr)
 
     @cmdutils.register(instance='mainwindow.tabs.cmd', hide=True)
     def open_cur(self):
         """Set the statusbar to :open and the current URL."""
-        urlstr = self._current_url().toDisplayString()
+        urlstr = self._current_url().toDisplayString(QUrl.FullyEncoded)
         message.set_cmd_text(':open ' + urlstr)
 
     @cmdutils.register(instance='mainwindow.tabs.cmd', hide=True)
     def open_tab_bg_cur(self):
         """Set the statusbar to :tabopen-bg and the current URL."""
-        urlstr = self._current_url().toDisplayString()
+        urlstr = self._current_url().toDisplayString(QUrl.FullyEncoded)
         message.set_cmd_text(':open-tab-bg ' + urlstr)
 
     @cmdutils.register(instance='mainwindow.tabs.cmd')
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
index b834d1f4e..281cdb0cc 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
@@ -320,8 +320,9 @@ class HintManager(QObject):
             Target.cmd_tab: 'open-tab',
             Target.cmd_tab_bg: 'open-tab-bg',
         }
+        urlstr = url.toDisplayString(QUrl.FullyEncoded)
         message.set_cmd_text(':{} {}'.format(commands[self._context.target],
-                                             url.toDisplayString()))
+                                             urlstr))
 
     def _download(self, url):
         """Download a hint URL.