diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 60a1af8..b862ae6 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ Searxng.prototype.handleMessage = function(event, room) {
 				}
 			}
 
+			toSearch = encodeURIComponent(toSearch);
 
 			const searchURL = this.searxngInstance + "/search?category_images=1&pageno=1&time_range=&format=json&"+this.searxngParameters+"&safesearch="+(messagePieces[0] == unsafeImageSearchCmd ? "0" : "1")+"&q=" + toSearch;
 			this.matrixClient.sendTyping(room.roomId, true, 3000);