diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
index 14150fa309c..678f5b7b8fe 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ xbps_write_metadata_pkg_real()
 	<key>virtual-pkgver</key>
 	<string>$provides</string>
 	<key>target-pkgpattern</key>
-	<string>$replaces</string>
+	<string>$(echo $replaces|sed "s|<|\&lt;|g;s|>|\&gt;|g")</string>
 </dict>
 </plist>
 _EOF