diff --git a/common.c b/common.c
index c86cfcb4c..42e7f54f5 100644
--- a/common.c
+++ b/common.c
@@ -1154,6 +1154,7 @@ wchar_t *unescape( const wchar_t * orig, int unescape_special )
 				{
 					switch( in[++in_pos] )
 					{
+						case '\\':
 						case L'\'':
 						{
 							in[out_pos]=in[in_pos];
@@ -1211,6 +1212,7 @@ wchar_t *unescape( const wchar_t * orig, int unescape_special )
 								return 0;
 							}
 							
+							case '\\':
 							case L'$':
 							case '"':
 							{
diff --git a/doc_src/doc.hdr b/doc_src/doc.hdr
index 1eeca9f31..ba9456fd4 100644
--- a/doc_src/doc.hdr
+++ b/doc_src/doc.hdr
@@ -72,10 +72,11 @@ quoted string, <a href='#expand-variable'>variable expansion</a> still
 takes place. Other than that, a quoted parameter will not be parameter
 expanded, may contain spaces, and escape sequences are ignored. The
 only backslash escape accepted within single quotes is \\', which
-escapes a single quote. The only backslash escapes accepted within
-double quotes are \\", which escapes a double quote, and \\$, which
-escapes a dollar character. Single quotes have no special meaning
-withing double quotes and vice versa.
+escapes a single quote and \\\\, which escapes the backslash
+symbol. The only backslash escapes accepted within double quotes are
+\\", which escapes a double quote, \\$, which escapes a dollar
+character, and \\\\, which escapes the backslash symbol. Single quotes
+have no special meaning withing double quotes and vice versa.
 
 Example: