diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/static/templates/app.hbs b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/static/templates/app.hbs
index 60497a05df..1109b76cea 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/static/templates/app.hbs
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/static/templates/app.hbs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 <!doctype html>
 <html>
 
-  <head>   
-    {{{head}}}   
+  <head>
+    {{{head}}}
   </head>
 
   <script>
diff --git a/packages/string-templates/src/helpers/index.js b/packages/string-templates/src/helpers/index.js
index 05145f7c7a..1ff729d187 100644
--- a/packages/string-templates/src/helpers/index.js
+++ b/packages/string-templates/src/helpers/index.js
@@ -20,10 +20,13 @@ const HELPERS = [
   // this help is applied to all statements
   new Helper(HelperFunctionNames.ALL, value => {
     // null/undefined values produce bad results
-    if (value == null) {
-      return ""
+    if (value == null || typeof value !== "string") {
+      return value || ""
     }
-    let text = new SafeString(unescape(value).replace(/&amp;/g, "&"))
+    if (value && value.string) {
+      value = value.string
+    }
+    let text = new SafeString(value.replace(/&amp;/g, "&"))
     if (text == null || typeof text !== "string") {
       return text
     }
diff --git a/packages/string-templates/test/helpers.spec.js b/packages/string-templates/test/helpers.spec.js
index e43bb5fbe1..b380fd9315 100644
--- a/packages/string-templates/test/helpers.spec.js
+++ b/packages/string-templates/test/helpers.spec.js
@@ -442,4 +442,15 @@ describe("Cover a few complex use cases", () => {
     const output = await processObject(input, tableJson)
     expect(output.dataProvider).not.toBe("Invalid Binding")
   })
+
+  it("should be able to handle external ids", async () => {
+    const input = {
+      dataProvider: "{{ literal [_id] }}",
+    }
+    const context = {
+      _id: "%5B%221%22%2C%221%22%5D",
+    }
+    const output = await processObject(input, context)
+    expect(output.dataProvider).toBe("%5B%221%22%2C%221%22%5D")
+  })
 })
