diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index 473906132..5e899aba1 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -677,7 +677,9 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
         """Helper method for yank() to get the URL to copy."""
         assert what in ['url', 'pretty-url'], what
         flags = QUrl.RemovePassword
-        if what != 'pretty-url':
+        if what == 'pretty-url':
+            flags |= QUrl.DecodeReserved
+        else:
             flags |= QUrl.FullyEncoded
         url = QUrl(self._current_url())
         url_query = QUrlQuery(url)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py b/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
index 69b658c98..3d74fc266 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def replace_variables(win_id, arglist):
         'url': lambda: _current_url(tabbed_browser).toString(
             QUrl.FullyEncoded | QUrl.RemovePassword),
         'url:pretty': lambda: _current_url(tabbed_browser).toString(
-            QUrl.RemovePassword),
+            QUrl.DecodeReserved | QUrl.RemovePassword),
         'clipboard': utils.get_clipboard,
         'primary': lambda: utils.get_clipboard(selection=True),
     }