diff --git a/src/util/sanitize.js b/src/util/sanitize.js
index 3b23052..5351a1a 100644
--- a/src/util/sanitize.js
+++ b/src/util/sanitize.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ function transformSpanTag(tagName, attribs) {
 }
 
 function transformATag(tagName, attribs) {
-  const userLink = attribs.href.match(/^https?:\/\/matrix.to\/#\/(@.+:.+)/);
+  const userLink = decodeURIComponent(attribs.href).match(/^https?:\/\/matrix.to\/#\/(@.+:.+)/);
   if (userLink !== null) {
     // convert user link to pill
     const userId = userLink[1];