diff --git a/src/switch_channel.c b/src/switch_channel.c
index 8100f9d0fc..2797b1cb95 100644
--- a/src/switch_channel.c
+++ b/src/switch_channel.c
@@ -1243,6 +1243,10 @@ SWITCH_DECLARE(char *) switch_channel_expand_variables(switch_channel_t *channel
 			if (*p == '\\') {
 				if (*(p + 1) == '$') {
 					nv = 1;
+				} else if (*(p + 1) == '\\') {
+					*c++ = *p++;
+					len++;
+					continue;
 				}
 				p++;
 			}