diff --git a/wp-includes/theme.php b/wp-includes/theme.php
index 8aac86c9f7..db6016d7c3 100644
--- a/wp-includes/theme.php
+++ b/wp-includes/theme.php
@@ -1554,7 +1554,7 @@ function _custom_background_cb() {
 	$style = $color ? "background-color: #$color;" : '';
 
 	if ( $background ) {
-		$image = " background-image: url(" . wp_json_encode( $background ) . ");";
+		$image = ' background-image: url("' . esc_url_raw( $background ) . '");';
 
 		// Background Position.
 		$position_x = get_theme_mod( 'background_position_x', get_theme_support( 'custom-background', 'default-position-x' ) );