--- RTFHandler.java	2009-08-26 14:47:30.000000000 -0400
+++ RTFHandler.java.new	2009-08-26 15:31:46.000000000 -0400
@@ -122,6 +122,8 @@
 import org.apache.fop.render.rtf.rtflib.tools.PercentContext;
 import org.apache.fop.render.rtf.rtflib.tools.TableContext;
 
+import org.apache.fop.datatypes.URISpecification;
+
 /**
  * RTF Handler: generates RTF output using the structure events from
  * the FO Tree sent to this structure handler.
@@ -994,7 +996,7 @@
             RtfHyperLink link = textrun.addHyperlink(new RtfAttributes());
 
             if (basicLink.hasExternalDestination()) {
-                link.setExternalURL(basicLink.getExternalDestination());
+                link.setExternalURL(URISpecification.getURL(basicLink.getExternalDestination()));
             } else {
                 link.setInternalURL(basicLink.getInternalDestination());
             }