diff --git a/phpBB/includes/mcp/mcp_forum.php b/phpBB/includes/mcp/mcp_forum.php
index 889e0a368c..4e40af934c 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/mcp/mcp_forum.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/mcp/mcp_forum.php
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ function merge_topics($forum_id, $topic_ids, $to_topic_id)
 		confirm_box(false, 'MERGE_TOPICS', $s_hidden_fields);
 	}
 
-	$redirect = request_var('redirect', "{$phpbb_root_path}viewtopic.$phpEx", "f=$to_forum_id&t=$to_topic_id");
+	$redirect = request_var('redirect', "{$phpbb_root_path}viewtopic.$phpEx?f=$to_forum_id&t=$to_topic_id");
 	$redirect = reapply_sid($redirect);
 
 	if (!$success_msg)
diff --git a/phpBB/includes/mcp/mcp_topic.php b/phpBB/includes/mcp/mcp_topic.php
index 7ed4908280..e96c025795 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/mcp/mcp_topic.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/mcp/mcp_topic.php
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ function split_topic($action, $topic_id, $to_forum_id, $subject)
 		confirm_box(false, ($action == 'split_all') ? 'SPLIT_TOPIC_ALL' : 'SPLIT_TOPIC_BEYOND', $s_hidden_fields);
 	}
 
-	$redirect = request_var('redirect', "{$phpbb_root_path}viewtopic.$phpEx", "f=$to_forum_id&t=$to_topic_id");
+	$redirect = request_var('redirect', "{$phpbb_root_path}viewtopic.$phpEx?f=$to_forum_id&t=$to_topic_id");
 	$redirect = reapply_sid($redirect);
 
 	if (!$success_msg)
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ function merge_posts($topic_id, $to_topic_id)
 		confirm_box(false, 'MERGE_POSTS', $s_hidden_fields);
 	}
 
-	$redirect = request_var('redirect', "{$phpbb_root_path}viewtopic.$phpEx", "f=$to_forum_id&t=$to_topic_id");
+	$redirect = request_var('redirect', "{$phpbb_root_path}viewtopic.$phpEx?f=$to_forum_id&t=$to_topic_id");
 	$redirect = reapply_sid($redirect);
 
 	if (!$success_msg)