diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/change/HashtagsUtil.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/change/HashtagsUtil.java
index 9c4372b936..d6df38d702 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/change/HashtagsUtil.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/change/HashtagsUtil.java
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public class HashtagsUtil {
   public static String cleanupHashtag(String hashtag) {
     hashtag = LEADER.trimLeadingFrom(hashtag);
     hashtag = WHITESPACE.trimTrailingFrom(hashtag);
-    return hashtag.toLowerCase();
+    return hashtag;
   }
 
   private Set<String> extractTags(Set<String> input)