diff --git a/test/test_backends.py b/test/test_backends.py
index 39cdecba..131e35da 100644
--- a/test/test_backends.py
+++ b/test/test_backends.py
@@ -212,6 +212,13 @@ def get_vars(host):
                 "host.name": "host",
             },
         ),
+        (
+            {},
+            b"host ansible_host=vsock%555",
+            {
+                "host.name": "vsock%555",
+            },
+        ),
         (
             {},
             b"host ansible_connection=smart",
diff --git a/testinfra/utils/ansible_runner.py b/testinfra/utils/ansible_runner.py
index eebaa553..69c3997b 100644
--- a/testinfra/utils/ansible_runner.py
+++ b/testinfra/utils/ansible_runner.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 import tempfile
+import urllib.parse
 from collections.abc import Iterator
 from typing import Any, Callable, Optional, Union
 
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ def get_config(
     if version == 6:
         spec += "[" + testinfra_host + "]"
     else:
-        spec += testinfra_host
+        spec += urllib.parse.quote(testinfra_host)
     if port:
         spec += f":{port}"
     return testinfra.get_host(spec, **kwargs)