diff --git a/pylib/anki/tags.py b/pylib/anki/tags.py
index 3302b8f9d..5ced38aa2 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/tags.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/tags.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import re
 from typing import Collection, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple
 
 import anki  # pylint: disable=unused-import
+from anki.rsbackend import FilterToSearchIn
 from anki.utils import ids2str
 
 
@@ -86,11 +87,11 @@ class TagManager:
 
     def rename_tag(self, old: str, new: str) -> int:
         "Rename provided tag, returning number of changed notes."
-        escaped_name = re.sub(r"[*_\\]", r"\\\g<0>", old)
-        quote_escaped = escaped_name.replace('"', '\\"')
-        nids = self.col.find_notes(f'tag:"{quote_escaped}"')
+        search = self.col.backend.filter_to_search(FilterToSearchIn(tag=old))
+        nids = self.col.find_notes(search)
         if not nids:
             return 0
+        escaped_name = re.sub(r"[*_\\]", r"\\\g<0>", old)
         return self.bulk_update(nids, escaped_name, new, False)
 
     # legacy routines