diff --git a/src/LyXRC.cpp b/src/LyXRC.cpp
index 2aa6473b34..319d21692b 100644
--- a/src/LyXRC.cpp
+++ b/src/LyXRC.cpp
@@ -1860,7 +1860,7 @@ void LyXRC::write(ostream & os, bool ignore_system_lyxrc, string const & name) c
 	case RC_FORWARD_SEARCH:
 		if (ignore_system_lyxrc ||
 		    forward_search != system_lyxrc.forward_search) {
-			os << "\\forward_search \"" << forward_search << "\"\n";
+			os << "\\forward_search \"" << escapeCommand(forward_search) << "\"\n";
 		}
 		if (tag != RC_LAST)
 			break;