diff --git a/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/autoload/netrw.vim b/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/autoload/netrw.vim
index d7b3d0d8ec..fcf31dc07b 100644
--- a/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/autoload/netrw.vim
+++ b/runtime/pack/dist/opt/netrw/autoload/netrw.vim
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 " 2026 Feb 27 by Vim Project Make the hostname validation more strict
 " 2026 Mar 01 by Vim Project include portnumber in hostname checking #19533
 " 2026 Apr 01 by Vim Project use fnameescape() with netrw#FileUrlEdit()
+" 2026 Apr 05 by Vim Project Fix netrw#RFC2396() #19913
 " Copyright:  Copyright (C) 2016 Charles E. Campbell {{{1
 "             Permission is hereby granted to use and distribute this code,
 "             with or without modifications, provided that this copyright
@@ -8830,8 +8831,7 @@ endfunction
 
 "  netrw#RFC2396: converts %xx into characters {{{2
 function netrw#RFC2396(fname)
-    let fname = escape(substitute(a:fname,'%\(\x\x\)','\=printf("%c","0x".submatch(1))','ge')," \t")
-    return fname
+    return substitute(a:fname, '%\(\x\x\)', '\=printf("%c","0x".submatch(1))', 'ge')
 endfunction
 
 " netrw#UserMaps: supports user-specified maps {{{2
diff --git a/test/old/testdir/test_plugin_netrw.vim b/test/old/testdir/test_plugin_netrw.vim
index ddd6b23cb0..c33b3c307e 100644
--- a/test/old/testdir/test_plugin_netrw.vim
+++ b/test/old/testdir/test_plugin_netrw.vim
@@ -611,4 +611,9 @@ func Test_netrw_FileUrlEdit_pipe_injection()
   call assert_false(filereadable(fname), 'Command injection via pipe in file URL')
 endfunc
 
+func Test_netrw_RFC2396()
+  let fname = 'a%20b'
+  call assert_equal('a b', netrw#RFC2396(fname))
+endfunc
+
 " vim:ts=8 sts=2 sw=2 et