diff --git a/ui/tabs.js b/ui/tabs.js
index 75723239c..3bd7b9246 100644
--- a/ui/tabs.js
+++ b/ui/tabs.js
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ $.widget( "ui.tabs", {
 	_getIndex: function( index ) {
 		// meta-function to give users option to provide a href string instead of a numerical index.
 		if ( typeof index === "string" ) {
-			index = this.anchors.index( this.anchors.filter( "[href$='" + index + "']" ) );
+			index = this.anchors.index( this.anchors.filter( "[href$='" + $.ui.escapeSelector( index ) + "']" ) );
 		}
 
 		return index;