diff --git a/public/mod/forum/classes/local/exporters/author.php b/public/mod/forum/classes/local/exporters/author.php
index 17a3ceb8d5b..a7181f75e42 100644
--- a/public/mod/forum/classes/local/exporters/author.php
+++ b/public/mod/forum/classes/local/exporters/author.php
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class author extends exporter {
 
                     return [
                         'id' => $group->id,
-                        'name' => format_string($group->name, true, ['context' => $context]),
+                        'name' => clean_string(format_string($group->name, true, ['context' => $context])),
                         'urls' => [
                             'image' => $imageurl ? $imageurl->out(false) : null,
                             'group' => $groupurl ? $groupurl->out(false) : null
diff --git a/public/mod/forum/classes/local/exporters/discussion.php b/public/mod/forum/classes/local/exporters/discussion.php
index 8270d9fa378..27360f4febd 100644
--- a/public/mod/forum/classes/local/exporters/discussion.php
+++ b/public/mod/forum/classes/local/exporters/discussion.php
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class discussion extends exporter {
             // or if it's been deleted and the discussion record hasn't been updated.
             if ($group) {
                 $groupdata = [
-                    'name' => format_string($group->name, true, ['context' => $this->related['context']]),
+                    'name' => clean_string(format_string($group->name, true, ['context' => $this->related['context']])),
                     'urls' => [],
                 ];
 
diff --git a/public/mod/forum/tests/behat/discussion_navigation.feature b/public/mod/forum/tests/behat/discussion_navigation.feature
index 50eca8ebe38..a717b93ce62 100644
--- a/public/mod/forum/tests/behat/discussion_navigation.feature
+++ b/public/mod/forum/tests/behat/discussion_navigation.feature
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ Feature: A user can navigate to previous and next discussions
       | student1 | C1 | student |
       | student2 | C1 | student |
     And the following "groups" exist:
-      | name | course | idnumber |
-      | Group 1 | C1 | G1 |
-      | Group 2 | C1 | G2 |
+      | name                  | course | idnumber |
+      | Group 1 & (EN) < '" > | C1     | G1       |
+      | Group 2               | C1     | G2       |
     And the following "group members" exist:
       | user | group |
       | teacher1 | G1 |
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ Feature: A user can navigate to previous and next discussions
     And I should see "Discussion 2 Group 1"
     And I should see "Discussion 2 Group 2"
     And I follow "Test forum name"
-    And I select "Group 1" from the "Visible groups" singleselect
+    And I select "Group 1 & (EN) < '" from the "Visible groups" singleselect
+    And I should see "Group 1 & (EN) < '\" >"
+    And I should not see "&amp;"
     And I follow "Discussion 1 Group 1"
     And I should see "Discussion 2 Group 0"
     And I should see "Discussion 2 Group 1"