diff --git a/src/core/title.js b/src/core/title.js
index 15ef44b683..d94043e73a 100644
--- a/src/core/title.js
+++ b/src/core/title.js
@@ -60,8 +60,12 @@ function setDocumentTitle(conf, h1Elem) {
   if (!h1Elem.isConnected) {
     h1Elem.textContent = document.title || `${l10n.default_title}`;
   }
-
-  let documentTitle = norm(h1Elem.textContent);
+  // We replace ":<br>" with ":", and "<br>" with "-", as appropriate.
+  const tempElem = document.createElement("h1");
+  tempElem.innerHTML = h1Elem.innerHTML
+    .replace(/:<br>/g, ": ")
+    .replace(/<br>/g, " - ");
+  let documentTitle = norm(tempElem.textContent);
 
   if (conf.isPreview && conf.prNumber) {
     const prUrl = conf.prUrl || `${conf.github.repoURL}pull/${conf.prNumber}`;
diff --git a/tests/spec/w3c/headers-spec.js b/tests/spec/w3c/headers-spec.js
index fafd151eea..c305438802 100644
--- a/tests/spec/w3c/headers-spec.js
+++ b/tests/spec/w3c/headers-spec.js
@@ -722,6 +722,18 @@ describe("W3C — Headers", () => {
       expect(h1).toBeTruthy();
       expect(h1.textContent.trim()).toBe("override!!!");
     });
+
+    it("handles special case of localized spec title by doing replacement of <br> elements", async () => {
+      const body = `
+      <title>hi</title>
+      <h1 id="title">Requirements for Chinese Text:<br/>Layout<br/><span lang="zh">中文排版需求</span></h1>
+      ${makeDefaultBody()}`;
+      const ops = makeStandardOps({}, body);
+      const doc = await makeRSDoc(ops);
+      expect(doc.title).toBe(
+        "Requirements for Chinese Text: Layout - 中文排版需求"
+      );
+    });
   });
 
   describe("precedence rules for h1#title is present and <title> is absent", () => {