diff --git a/module_citeq.lua b/module_citeq.lua
index aa55ac2..0e113e6 100644
--- a/module_citeq.lua
+++ b/module_citeq.lua
@@ -1017,6 +1017,8 @@ local function _cite_q (citeq_args)
 			if changed then														-- when changes have been made
 				citeq_args[k] = v;												-- update <citeq_args[k]>
 			end
+
+			citeq_args[k] = mw.text.decode (v):gsub ('\194\160', '&nbsp;');		-- decode basic html entities; reencode no-break space characters
 		end
 	end