diff --git a/src/wp-includes/theme-compat/footer.php b/src/wp-includes/theme-compat/footer.php
index 2a719e18f0..6d1ceccac6 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/theme-compat/footer.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/theme-compat/footer.php
@@ -23,9 +23,10 @@ _deprecated_file(
 		<?php
 		printf(
 			/* translators: 1: Site name, 2: WordPress */
-			__( '%1$s is proudly powered by %2$s' ),
+			__( '%1$s is proudly powered by <a href="%2$s">%3$s</a>' ),
 			get_bloginfo( 'name' ),
-			'<a href="https://wordpress.org/">WordPress</a>'
+			esc_url( __( 'https://wordpress.org/' ) ),
+			esc_html__( 'WordPress' )
 		);
 		?>
 	</p>