diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8c3c271..cf585aa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ Direct:
 pip install "aioweb @ git+ssh://git@git.rethinkstudios.io/rethink-public/aioweb.git@v0.1.13"
 ```
 
-Requires `aiohttp` and `yarl` (pulled transitively).
+Requires `aiohttp` and `yarl` (pulled transitively), plus the sibling `commons` library
+(a private `git+ssh` package — the install needs access to the `rethink-public` org).
 
 Drop the `@v0.1.13` suffix from the line above to install the latest unpinned.
 
diff --git a/src/aioweb/preview.py b/src/aioweb/preview.py
index 810b496..3435e54 100644
--- a/src/aioweb/preview.py
+++ b/src/aioweb/preview.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ request preview for aioweb - format or export a request without sending it
 
 import json as _json
 import shlex
+from urllib.parse import urlencode
 
 from yarl import URL
 
@@ -33,7 +34,11 @@ class RequestPreview:
         for header, value in (self.details["headers"] or {}).items():
             parts.append(f"-H {shlex.quote(f'{header}: {value}')}")
         if self.details["data"] is not None:
-            parts.append(f"--data {shlex.quote(str(self.details['data']))}")
+            data = self.details["data"]
+            # aiohttp form-encodes a dict data= body (application/x-www-form-urlencoded);
+            # render that wire form, not the python repr, so the curl replays identically
+            rendered = urlencode(data) if isinstance(data, dict) else str(data)
+            parts.append(f"--data {shlex.quote(rendered)}")
         elif self.details["json"] is not None:
             # is-not-None: an empty-but-valid body ({} / []) must still render
             parts.append(f"--data {shlex.quote(_json.dumps(self.details['json']))}")