diff --git a/wire/core/LanguageFunctions.php b/wire/core/LanguageFunctions.php
index 5881dac7..b384f430 100644
--- a/wire/core/LanguageFunctions.php
+++ b/wire/core/LanguageFunctions.php
@@ -40,12 +40,14 @@ function __($text, $textdomain = null, $context = '') {
 		// common translation
 		$textdomain = 'wire/modules/LanguageSupport/LanguageTranslator.php';
 	}
-	$value = htmlspecialchars($language->translator()->getTranslation($textdomain, $text, $context), ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8');
+	$value = $language->translator()->getTranslation($textdomain, $text, $context);
 	if($value === "=") {
 		$value = $text;
 	} else if($value === "+") {
 		$v = $language->translator()->commonTranslation($text);
 		$value = empty($v) ? $text : $v;
+	} else {
+		$value = htmlspecialchars($value, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8', false);
 	}
 	return $value;
 }