diff --git a/qutebrowser/completion/completiondelegate.py b/qutebrowser/completion/completiondelegate.py
index d07e7da16..7defbacd3 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/completion/completiondelegate.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/completion/completiondelegate.py
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ class CompletionItemDelegate(QStyledItemDelegate):
             columns_to_filter = index.model().srcmodel.columns_to_filter
             if index.column() in columns_to_filter and pattern:
                 repl = r'<span class="highlight">\g<0></span>'
-                text = re.sub(re.escape(pattern), repl, self._opt.text,
-                              flags=re.IGNORECASE)
+                text = re.sub(re.escape(pattern).replace(r'\ ', r'|'),
+                              repl, self._opt.text, flags=re.IGNORECASE)
                 self._doc.setHtml(text)
             else:
                 self._doc.setPlainText(self._opt.text)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/completion/models/sortfilter.py b/qutebrowser/completion/models/sortfilter.py
index bb45ce7c1..7b2d9bf6e 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/completion/models/sortfilter.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/completion/models/sortfilter.py
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ class CompletionFilterModel(QSortFilterProxyModel):
         """
         with debug.log_time(log.completion, 'Setting filter pattern'):
             self.pattern = val
-            self.patternre = re.compile(re.escape(val.casefold()).replace("\ ", ".*"))
+            self.patternre = re.compile(re.escape(val.casefold())
+                    .replace(r'\ ', r'.*'))
             self.invalidateFilter()
             sortcol = 0
             try: