diff --git a/src/opnsense/service/modules/template.py b/src/opnsense/service/modules/template.py
index 5f216099b..6c78d4438 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/service/modules/template.py
+++ b/src/opnsense/service/modules/template.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class Template(object):
 
         # register additional filters
         self._j2_env.filters['decode_idna'] = lambda x:x.decode('idna')
-        self._j2_env.filters['encode_idna'] = lambda x:x.encode('idna')
+        self._j2_env.filters['encode_idna'] = lambda x:x.encode('idna') if not x.startswith('.') else x
 
     def list_module(self, module_name):
         """ list single module content