diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/formats.c b/src/fe-common/core/formats.c
index ef1b79d7..515a48a3 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/formats.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/formats.c
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ int format_expand_styles(GString *out, const char **format, int *flags)
 
         fmt = **format;
 	switch (fmt) {
+	case '{':
+	case '}':
+	case '%':
+                /* escaped char */
+		g_string_append_c(out, fmt);
+		break;
 	case 'U':
 		/* Underline on/off */
 		g_string_append_c(out, 4);
@@ -121,9 +127,6 @@ int format_expand_styles(GString *out, const char **format, int *flags)
 		g_string_append_c(out, 4);
 		g_string_append_c(out, FORMAT_STYLE_REVERSE);
 		break;
-	case '%':
-		g_string_append_c(out, '%');
-		break;
 	case ':':
 		/* Newline */
 		g_string_append_c(out, '\n');
diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/themes.c b/src/fe-common/core/themes.c
index a6881fa6..c7f8cf7b 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/themes.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/themes.c
@@ -212,7 +212,9 @@ static void theme_format_append_next(THEME_REC *theme, GString *str,
 			return;
 		}
 
-		/* %{ or %} gives us { or } char */
+		/* %{ or %} gives us { or } char - keep the % char
+		   though to make sure {} isn't treated as abstract */
+		g_string_append_c(str, '%');
 		chr = **format;
 	}