diff --git a/libraries/config/config_functions.lib.php b/libraries/config/config_functions.lib.php
index 8aac9ef33..fb86a5f2c 100644
--- a/libraries/config/config_functions.lib.php
+++ b/libraries/config/config_functions.lib.php
@@ -44,8 +44,13 @@ function PMA_lang($lang_key)
     $message = isset($GLOBALS["strConfig$lang_key"]) ? $GLOBALS["strConfig$lang_key"] : $lang_key;
     $message = str_replace($search, $replace, $message);
     // replace [a@"$1"]$2[/a] with <a href="$1">$2</a>
-    $message = preg_replace('#\[a@("?)([^\]]+)\1\]([^\[]+)\[/a\]#e',
-        "PMA_lang_link_replace('$2', '$3')", $message);
+    $message = preg_replace_callback(
+        '#\[a@("?)([^\]]+)\1\]([^\[]+)\[/a\]#',
+        function ($matches) {
+            return PMA_lang_link_replace($matches[2], $matches[3]);
+        },
+        $message
+    );
 
     if (func_num_args() == 1) {
         return $message;