diff --git a/lib/api/branches.rb b/lib/api/branches.rb
index edfdf842f85..431d52a98ea 100644
--- a/lib/api/branches.rb
+++ b/lib/api/branches.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 require 'mime/types'
-require 'uri'
 
 module API
   # Projects API
@@ -101,10 +100,11 @@ module API
       #   branch (required) - The name of the branch
       # Example Request:
       #   DELETE /projects/:id/repository/branches/:branch
-      delete ":id/repository/branches/:branch" do
+      delete ":id/repository/branches/:branch"
+          requirements: { branch: /.*/ } do
         authorize_push_project
         result = DeleteBranchService.new(user_project, current_user).
-          execute(URI.unescape(params[:branch]))
+          execute(params[:branch])
 
         if result[:status] == :success
           {