diff --git a/lib/connection-parameters.js b/lib/connection-parameters.js
index aec183bb..df11d1cb 100644
--- a/lib/connection-parameters.js
+++ b/lib/connection-parameters.js
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ var parse = function(str) {
   var result = url.parse(str);
   var config = {};
   config.host = result.hostname;
-  config.database = result.pathname ? result.pathname.slice(1) : null;
+  // not sure if postgres allows symbols in database names
+  // but we should allow them just in case
+  config.database = result.pathname ? decodeURI(result.pathname.slice(1)) : null;
   var auth = (result.auth || ':').split(':');
   config.user = auth[0];
   config.password = auth[1];