diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/defaults/main.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/defaults/main.yml
index 48ed1b03..7b5ea54d 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/defaults/main.yml
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_port: 5432
 matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_name: 'synapse'
 
 # connection string to synapse database (postgres only)
-matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_synapse_database: 'postgres://{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_username }}:{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_password }}@{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_hostname }}:{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_port }}/{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_name }}'
+matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_synapse_database: 'postgres://{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_username | urlencode() }}:{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_password | urlencode() }}@{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_hostname }}:{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_port }}/{{ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_name }}'
 
 # systemd calendar configuration for the compressor job
 matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_calendar: "*-*-* 00:00:00"