diff --git a/markdown.py b/markdown.py
index c3c7bfff5..f64672a39 100644
--- a/markdown.py
+++ b/markdown.py
@@ -141,8 +141,28 @@ def _markdown_replace_links(markdown: str, images: bool = False) -> str:
                 markdown_link.split(start_chars)[1].split(']')[0] + \
                 '" />'
         text = text.split(')', 1)[1]
+
     for md_link, html_link in replace_links.items():
-        markdown = markdown.replace(md_link, html_link)
+        lines = markdown.split('\n')
+        markdown = ''
+        code_section = False
+        ctr = 0
+        for line in lines:
+            if ctr > 0:
+                markdown += '\n'
+            # avoid code sections
+            if not code_section:
+                if '<code>' in line:
+                    code_section = True
+            else:
+                if '</code>' in line:
+                    code_section = False
+            if code_section:
+                markdown += line
+                ctr += 1
+                continue
+            markdown += line.replace(md_link, html_link)
+            ctr += 1
     return markdown
 
 
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index cf71f0806..b35654c49 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -5771,7 +5771,7 @@ def _test_markdown_to_html():
         'This is [a link](https://something.somewhere) to something.\n' + \
         'And [something else](https://cat.pic).\n' + \
         'Or ![pounce](/cat.jpg).'
-    assert markdown_to_html(markdown) == \
+    expected = \
         'This is <a href="https://something.somewhere" ' + \
         'target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">' + \
         'a link</a> to something.<br>' + \
@@ -5779,6 +5779,10 @@ def _test_markdown_to_html():
         'target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">' + \
         'something else</a>.<br>' + \
         'Or <img class="markdownImage" src="/cat.jpg" alt="pounce" />.'
+    result = markdown_to_html(markdown)
+    if result != expected:
+        print(result)
+    assert result == expected
 
 
 def _test_extract_text_fields_from_post():