diff --git a/roffit b/roffit
index f0778a2..e61ddb2 100755
--- a/roffit
+++ b/roffit
@@ -556,6 +556,9 @@ sub parsefile {
             $txt =~ s/\\\(cq/&apos\;/g;
             $txt =~ s/\\\(dq/&quot\;/g;
 
+            # \e is the "escape character", defaults to backslash
+            $txt =~ s/\\e/\/g;
+
             $txt = handle_italic_bold $txt;
 
             # replace backslash [something] with just [something]