diff --git a/lib/Epub/Epub.cpp b/lib/Epub/Epub.cpp
index 141e7c3c..47d11708 100644
--- a/lib/Epub/Epub.cpp
+++ b/lib/Epub/Epub.cpp
@@ -900,10 +900,10 @@ float Epub::calculateProgress(const int currentSpineIndex, const float currentSp
 int Epub::resolveHrefToSpineIndex(const std::string& href) const {
   if (!bookMetadataCache || !bookMetadataCache->isLoaded()) return -1;
 
-  // Extract filename (remove #anchor)
-  std::string target = href;
-  size_t hashPos = target.find('#');
-  if (hashPos != std::string::npos) target = target.substr(0, hashPos);
+  // Split before decoding so escaped '#' characters in filenames stay part of the path.
+  const size_t hashPos = href.find('#');
+  const std::string rawTarget = hashPos != std::string::npos ? href.substr(0, hashPos) : href;
+  const std::string target = FsHelpers::normalisePath(FsHelpers::decodeUriEscapes(rawTarget));
 
   // Same-file reference (anchor-only)
   if (target.empty()) return -1;