diff --git a/.upgradenotes/MDL-83080-2024121715070347.yml b/.upgradenotes/MDL-83080-2024121715070347.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..8af85296d18ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.upgradenotes/MDL-83080-2024121715070347.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+issueNumber: MDL-83080
+notes:
+  core_message:
+    - message: >-
+        The `contexturl` property to `\core\message\message` instances can now
+        contain `\core\url` values in addition to plain strings
+      type: improved
diff --git a/lib/classes/message/message.php b/lib/classes/message/message.php
index 30301c5dd970a..8d56719151839 100644
--- a/lib/classes/message/message.php
+++ b/lib/classes/message/message.php
@@ -14,18 +14,9 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 // along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-/**
- * New messaging class.
- *
- * @package   core_message
- * @since     Moodle 2.9
- * @copyright 2015 onwards Ankit Agarwal
- * @license   http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
- */
-
 namespace core\message;
 
-defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
+use core\url;
 
 /**
  * New messaging class.
@@ -46,7 +37,7 @@
  *
  * Optional parameters of the $eventdata object:
  *  notification bool Should the message be considered as a notification rather than a personal message
- *  contexturl string If this is a notification then you can specify a url to view the event.
+ *  contexturl string|url If this is a notification then you can specify a url to view the event.
  *                    For example the forum post the user is being notified of.
  *  contexturlname string The display text for contexturl.
  *  replyto string An email address which can be used to send an reply.
@@ -102,7 +93,7 @@ class message {
     /** @var  int Is it a notification? */
     private $notification;
 
-    /** @var  string context url. */
+    /** @var string|url context url. */
     private $contexturl;
 
     /** @var  string context name. */
diff --git a/lib/messagelib.php b/lib/messagelib.php
index a79b78c0c9579..3eca554fd20d8 100644
--- a/lib/messagelib.php
+++ b/lib/messagelib.php
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
  * @license   http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
  */
 
+use core\url;
+
 defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();
 
 require_once(__DIR__ . '/../message/lib.php');
@@ -44,7 +46,8 @@
  *
  * Optional parameters of the $eventdata object:
  *  notification bool should the message be considered as a notification rather than a personal message
- *  contexturl string if this is a notification then you can specify a url to view the event. For example the forum post the user is being notified of.
+ *  contexturl string|url if this is a notification then you can specify a url to view the event.
+ *                    For example the forum post the user is being notified of.
  *  contexturlname string the display text for contexturl
  *
  * Note: processor failure will not reported as false return value in all scenarios,
@@ -83,6 +86,14 @@ function message_send(\core\message\message $eventdata) {
         return false;
     }
 
+    // Cast context URL and name.
+    if (!empty($eventdata->contexturl)) {
+        $eventdata->contexturl = (string) $eventdata->contexturl;
+    }
+    if (!empty($eventdata->contexturlname)) {
+        $eventdata->contexturlname = (string) $eventdata->contexturlname;
+    }
+
     // Legacy messages (FROM a single user TO a single user) must be converted into conversation messages.
     // Then, these will be passed through the conversation messages code below.
     if (!$eventdata->notification && !$eventdata->convid) {
@@ -256,17 +267,8 @@ function message_send(\core\message\message $eventdata) {
     $tabledata->component = $eventdata->component;
     $tabledata->timecreated = time();
     $tabledata->customdata = $eventdata->customdata;
-    if (!empty($eventdata->contexturl)) {
-        $tabledata->contexturl = (string)$eventdata->contexturl;
-    } else {
-        $tabledata->contexturl = null;
-    }
-
-    if (!empty($eventdata->contexturlname)) {
-        $tabledata->contexturlname = (string)$eventdata->contexturlname;
-    } else {
-        $tabledata->contexturlname = null;
-    }
+    $tabledata->contexturl = $eventdata->contexturl ?? null;
+    $tabledata->contexturlname = $eventdata->contexturlname ?? null;
 
     if ($messageid = message_handle_phpunit_redirection($eventdata, $table, $tabledata)) {
         return $messageid;