diff --git a/autoload/vimtex/util.vim b/autoload/vimtex/util.vim
index 44c3195587..70ef65a66a 100644
--- a/autoload/vimtex/util.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimtex/util.vim
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function! vimtex#util#shellescape(cmd) " {{{1
     let &shellslash = l:shellslash
     return l:cmd
   else
-    return shellescape(a:cmd)
+    return escape(shellescape(a:cmd), '\')
   endif
 endfunction