diff --git a/R/markdown.R b/R/markdown.R
index b682b1eec..b7c657fcc 100644
--- a/R/markdown.R
+++ b/R/markdown.R
@@ -333,7 +333,10 @@ mdxml_link <- function(xml, state) {
   } else if (dest == "" || dest == xml_text(xml)) {
     paste0("\\url{", escape_comment(xml_text(xml)), "}")
   } else {
-    paste0("\\href{", dest, "}{", mdxml_link_text(contents, state), "}")
+    paste0(
+      "\\href{", escape_comment(dest), "}",
+      "{", mdxml_link_text(contents, state), "}"
+    )
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-markdown-link.R b/tests/testthat/test-markdown-link.R
index e7c07cfdd..0db803049 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-markdown-link.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-markdown-link.R
@@ -446,3 +446,19 @@ test_that("linking to self is unqualified", {
     "foo \\code{\\link[=fun]{fun()}} and \\link{obj} bar"
   )
 })
+
+test_that("percents are escaped in link targets", {
+  out1 <- roc_proc_text(rd_roclet(), "
+    #' Title
+    #'
+    #' [link % text](https://foo.bar/link%20target)
+    #' @md
+    foo <- function() {}")[[1]]
+  out2 <- roc_proc_text(rd_roclet(), "
+    #' Title
+    #'
+    #' \\href{https://foo.bar/link%20target}{link % text}
+    #' @md
+    foo <- function() {}")[[1]]
+  expect_equivalent_rd(out1, out2)
+})