diff --git a/markdown/inlinepatterns.py b/markdown/inlinepatterns.py
index de957ef48..44eda9bf7 100644
--- a/markdown/inlinepatterns.py
+++ b/markdown/inlinepatterns.py
@@ -344,7 +344,6 @@ def sanitize_url(self, url):
         `username:password@host:port`.
 
         """
-        url = url.replace(' ', '%20')
         if not self.markdown.safeMode:
             # Return immediately bipassing parsing.
             return url