diff --git a/builtin/mainmenu/tab_online.lua b/builtin/mainmenu/tab_online.lua
index 8e88a774..a057d097 100644
--- a/builtin/mainmenu/tab_online.lua
+++ b/builtin/mainmenu/tab_online.lua
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ local function main_button_handler(tabview, fields, name, tabdata)
 		-- setup the keyword list
 		local keywords = {}
 		for word in input:gmatch("%S+") do
+			word = word:gsub("(%W)", "%%%1")
 			table.insert(keywords, word)
 		end