diff --git a/src/conf.c b/src/conf.c
index 2f7850c..d754351 100644
--- a/src/conf.c
+++ b/src/conf.c
@@ -209,6 +209,8 @@ int patty_conf_read(const char *path,
            lineno = 1,
            column = 0;
 
+    uint8_t last = '\0';
+
     if (file_read(&file, path) < 0) {
         goto error_file_read;
     }
@@ -321,9 +323,11 @@ int patty_conf_read(const char *path,
             }
         }
 
-        if (escape == ESCAPE_ON) {
+        if (escape == ESCAPE_ON && last == '\\') {
             escape =  ESCAPE_OFF;
         }
+
+        last = c;
     }
 
     if (token.len) {