diff --git a/fdroidserver/metadata.py b/fdroidserver/metadata.py
index 40a2a818..2ec38b0a 100644
--- a/fdroidserver/metadata.py
+++ b/fdroidserver/metadata.py
@@ -341,6 +341,8 @@ class DescriptionFormatter:
                 else:
                     urltxt = url[index2 + 1:]
                     url = url[:index2]
+                    if url == urltxt:
+                        raise MetaDataException("Url title is just the URL - use [url]")
                 linkified_html += '<a href="' + url + '">' + cgi.escape(urltxt) + '</a>'
                 linkified_plain += urltxt
                 if urltxt != url: