diff --git a/denote.el b/denote.el
index 2b37d0d..9c69dda 100644
--- a/denote.el
+++ b/denote.el
@@ -6849,7 +6849,7 @@ query of file contents or file names (see the commands
 
 Uses the function `denote-directory' to establish the path to the file."
   (if-let* ((match (denote-link--ol-resolve-link-to-target link))
-            (_ (file-exists-p (string-trim-right match ":\\{2\\}.*"))))
+            (_ (file-exists-p (string-trim-right match "::.*"))))
       (org-link-open-as-file match nil)
     (denote--act-on-query-link match)))