diff --git a/src/wp-includes/link-template.php b/src/wp-includes/link-template.php
index 59bc5d2fc1..28c65c8d0a 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/link-template.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/link-template.php
@@ -3024,7 +3024,7 @@ function _navigation_markup( $links, $css_class = 'posts-navigation', $screen_re
 	 */
 	$template = apply_filters( 'navigation_markup_template', $template, $css_class );
 
-	return sprintf( $template, sanitize_html_class( $css_class ), esc_html( $screen_reader_text ), $links, esc_html( $aria_label ) );
+	return sprintf( $template, sanitize_html_class( $css_class ), esc_html( $screen_reader_text ), $links, esc_attr( $aria_label ) );
 }
 
 /**