diff --git a/doc/doxygen/src/mainpage.md b/doc/doxygen/src/mainpage.md
index 018a4d3683083a005684b5bdded477d84eae7843..90a833bda27d73ac4ebe0547e25b4be447a2c76b 100644
--- a/doc/doxygen/src/mainpage.md
+++ b/doc/doxygen/src/mainpage.md
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ RIOT is developed by an open community that anyone is welcome to join:
  - Follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/RIOT_OS) for news from the RIOT
    community.
  - Contact us on IRC for live support and discussions:
-   [irc.freenode.org #riot-os](irc://irc.freenode.org/riot-os)
+   [irc.freenode.org \#riot-os](irc://irc.freenode.org/riot-os)
 
 
 The quickest start                                        {#the-quickest-start}