diff --git a/github/repos_contents.go b/github/repos_contents.go
index 520cf2f..6202f19 100644
--- a/github/repos_contents.go
+++ b/github/repos_contents.go
@@ -127,9 +127,11 @@ func (s *RepositoriesService) DownloadContents(owner, repo, filepath string, opt
 // value and the other will be nil.
 //
 // GitHub API docs: http://developer.github.com/v3/repos/contents/#get-contents
-func (s *RepositoriesService) GetContents(owner, repo, path string, opt *RepositoryContentGetOptions) (fileContent *RepositoryContent,
-	directoryContent []*RepositoryContent, resp *Response, err error) {
-	u := fmt.Sprintf("repos/%s/%s/contents/%s", owner, repo, path)
+func (s *RepositoriesService) GetContents(owner, repo, path string, opt *RepositoryContentGetOptions) (fileContent *RepositoryContent, directoryContent []*RepositoryContent, resp *Response, err error) {
+	// escape characters not allowed in URL path.  This actually escapes a
+	// lot more, but seems to be harmless.
+	escapedPath := url.QueryEscape(path)
+	u := fmt.Sprintf("repos/%s/%s/contents/%s", owner, repo, escapedPath)
 	u, err = addOptions(u, opt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, nil, err
diff --git a/github/repos_contents_test.go b/github/repos_contents_test.go
index 8ab3ecd..c09775c 100644
--- a/github/repos_contents_test.go
+++ b/github/repos_contents_test.go
@@ -141,6 +141,19 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_GetContents_File(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRepositoriesService_GetContents_FilenameNeedsEscape(t *testing.T) {
+	setup()
+	defer teardown()
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/contents/p#?%/中.go", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		testMethod(t, r, "GET")
+		fmt.Fprint(w, `{}`)
+	})
+	_, _, _, err := client.Repositories.GetContents("o", "r", "p#?%/中.go", &RepositoryContentGetOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Repositories.GetContents returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestRepositoriesService_GetContents_Directory(t *testing.T) {
 	setup()
 	defer teardown()