diff --git a/www/searchFunc.js b/www/searchFunc.js
index 7b6efd493974d9ce2adc6ad65be313a3a4b46ef7..1ad1cf35fc1e86516d321c4ff6fb22aa6fe7aba5 100644
--- a/www/searchFunc.js
+++ b/www/searchFunc.js
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ UNL_Search.doPeoplefinderQuery = function (val) {
 	} else {
 		var pointer = this;
 		WDN.loadJQuery(function(){
-			WDN.get("http://directory.unl.edu/service.php?q=" + val, null, function(data, textStatus) {
+			WDN.get("http://directory.unl.edu/service.php?q=" + encodeURIComponent(val), null, function(data, textStatus) {
 				pointer.peoplefinderCache.save(val, data);
 				UNL_Search.handlePeoplefinderResults(data);
 			});