diff --git a/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py b/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
index 16c790eca..aca88db6b 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/commands/runners.py
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ def replace_variables(win_id, arglist):
         'clipboard': utils.get_clipboard,
         'primary': lambda: utils.get_clipboard(selection=True),
     }
+    for key in list(variables):
+        modified_key = '{' + key + '}'
+        variables[modified_key] = lambda x=modified_key: x
     values = {}
     args = []
     tabbed_browser = objreg.get('tabbed-browser', scope='window',
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature b/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
index 8f21b7421..e15af8ad5 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
@@ -436,6 +436,11 @@ Feature: Various utility commands.
         And I run :message-info {clipboard}bar{url}
         Then the message "foobarhttp://localhost:*/hello.txt" should be shown
 
+    Scenario: escaping {{url}} variable
+        When I open data/hello.txt
+        And I run :message-info foo{{url}}bar
+        Then the message "foo{url}bar" should be shown
+
     @xfail_norun
     Scenario: {url} in clipboard should not be expanded
         When I open data/hello.txt