diff --git a/osc/commandline.py b/osc/commandline.py
index 9b598ffe..4d8f1c9b 100644
--- a/osc/commandline.py
+++ b/osc/commandline.py
@@ -2197,7 +2197,7 @@ Please submit there instead, or use --nodevelproject to force direct submission.
                                    msg = "%s (forwarded request %s from %s)" % ( rq.description, reqid, rq.get_creator())
                                    print msg
                                    rid = create_submit_request(apiurl, action.tgt_project, action.tgt_package,
-                                                                       project, package, msg)
+                                                                       project, package, cgi.escape(msg))
                                    print "New request #", rid
 
     # editmeta and its aliases are all depracated