diff --git a/src/core/misc.c b/src/core/misc.c
index 27741220..bcad890d 100644
--- a/src/core/misc.c
+++ b/src/core/misc.c
@@ -757,6 +757,22 @@ char *escape_string(const char *str)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+/* Escape all '\' chars with '\' */
+char *escape_string_escape(const char *str)
+{
+	char *ret, *p;
+
+	p = ret = g_malloc(strlen(str)*2+1);
+	while (*str != '\0') {
+		if (*str == '\\')
+			*p++ = '\\';
+		*p++ = *str++;
+	}
+	*p = '\0';
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
 int nearest_power(int num)
 {
 	int n = 1;
diff --git a/src/core/misc.h b/src/core/misc.h
index a46a1432..9694819f 100644
--- a/src/core/misc.h
+++ b/src/core/misc.h
@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@ char *ascii_strdown(char *str);
 /* Escape all '"', "'" and '\' chars with '\' */
 char *escape_string(const char *str);
 
+/* Escape all '\' chars with '\' */
+char *escape_string_escape(const char *str);
+
 /* convert all low-ascii (<32) to ^<A..> combinations */
 char *show_lowascii(const char *str);
 
diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/completion.c b/src/fe-common/core/completion.c
index fd452e5c..02d832b0 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/completion.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/completion.c
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ char *word_complete(WINDOW_REC *window, const char *line, int *pos, int erase, i
 
 	/* escape if the word doesn't begin with '/' and expand_escapes are turned on */
 	data = strchr(cmdchars, *line) == NULL && expand_escapes ?
-		escape_string(complist->data) : g_strdup(complist->data);
+		escape_string_escape(complist->data) : g_strdup(complist->data);
 
 	/* word completed */
 	*pos = startpos + strlen(data);