diff --git a/main/src/com/google/refine/exporters/CustomizableTabularExporterUtilities.java b/main/src/com/google/refine/exporters/CustomizableTabularExporterUtilities.java
index f32058cb8..e139d791a 100644
--- a/main/src/com/google/refine/exporters/CustomizableTabularExporterUtilities.java
+++ b/main/src/com/google/refine/exporters/CustomizableTabularExporterUtilities.java
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 package com.google.refine.exporters;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.net.URISyntaxException;
 import java.text.DateFormat;
 import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
 import java.time.OffsetDateTime;
@@ -371,10 +373,13 @@ abstract public class CustomizableTabularExporterUtilities {
                         if (value instanceof String) {
                             text = (String) value;
                             
-                            if(text.contains(":")) {
-                                if(urlValidator.isValid(text)) {
-                                    link = text;
-                                }
+                            if(text.contains(":") && urlValidator.isValid(text)) {
+                            	// Extra check for https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/issues/2213
+                            	try {
+                            		link = new URI(text).toString();
+                            	} catch(URISyntaxException e) {
+                            		;
+                            	}
                             }
                         } else if (value instanceof OffsetDateTime) {
                             text = ((OffsetDateTime) value).format(DateTimeFormatter.ISO_INSTANT);
diff --git a/main/tests/server/src/com/google/refine/exporters/XlsxExporterTests.java b/main/tests/server/src/com/google/refine/exporters/XlsxExporterTests.java
index b8a260ef2..23ad37489 100644
--- a/main/tests/server/src/com/google/refine/exporters/XlsxExporterTests.java
+++ b/main/tests/server/src/com/google/refine/exporters/XlsxExporterTests.java
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
 
 import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.time.OffsetDateTime;
 import java.util.Properties;
 
@@ -155,6 +156,30 @@ public class XlsxExporterTests extends RefineTest {
             Assert.fail();
         }
     }
+    
+    @Test
+    public void exportXlsxStringWithURLs() throws IOException{
+        String url = "GET /primo-library/,http:%2F%2Fcatalogue.unice.fr HTTP/1.1";
+        createDateGrid(2, 2, url);
+
+        try {
+            SUT.export(project, options, engine, stream);
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            Assert.fail();
+        }
+        
+        ByteArrayInputStream inStream = new ByteArrayInputStream( stream.toByteArray() );
+        try {
+            XSSFWorkbook wb = new XSSFWorkbook(inStream);
+            XSSFSheet ws = wb.getSheetAt(0);
+            XSSFRow row1 = ws.getRow(1);
+            XSSFCell cell0 = row1.getCell(0);
+            Assert.assertTrue(cell0.toString().contains("primo-library"));
+            wb.close();
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            Assert.fail();
+        }
+    }
 
     //helper methods
 
@@ -180,13 +205,13 @@ public class XlsxExporterTests extends RefineTest {
         }
     }
     
-    private void createDateGrid(int noOfRows, int noOfColumns, OffsetDateTime now){
+    private void createDateGrid(int noOfRows, int noOfColumns, Serializable value){
         CreateColumns(noOfColumns);
 
         for(int i = 0; i < noOfRows; i++){
             Row row = new Row(noOfColumns);
             for(int j = 0; j < noOfColumns; j++){
-                row.cells.add(new Cell(now, null));
+                row.cells.add(new Cell(value, null));
             }
             project.rows.add(row);
         }