diff --git a/handlers.go b/handlers.go
index bd07c9c..ff9d680 100644
--- a/handlers.go
+++ b/handlers.go
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ func (rl *rushlink) newPasteHandlerURLEncoded(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Req
 }
 
 func (rl *rushlink) newRedirectPasteHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, rawurl string) {
-	userURL, err := url.ParseRequestURI(rawurl)
+	userURL, err := url.Parse(rawurl)
 	if err != nil {
 		msg := fmt.Sprintf("invalid url (%v): %v", err, rawurl)
 		rl.renderError(w, r, http.StatusBadRequest, msg)