diff --git a/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el b/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
index c85440da..b0f6a97e 100644
--- a/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
+++ b/mu4e/mu4e-proc.el
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ Start the process if needed."
   "Construct a backend parameter based on DOCID-OR-MSGID."
   (format
     (if (stringp docid-or-msgid)
-      "msgid:\"%s\""
+      (concat "msgid:"(mu4e~escape (format "%s" msgid)))
       "docid:%d")
     docid-or-msgid))