--- a/src/templite/__init__.py
+++ b/src/templite/__init__.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import sys, re
 from polyglot.builtins import unicode_type
 
 class Templite:
-    auto_emit = re.compile('(^[\'\"])|(^[a-zA-Z0-9_\[\]\'\"]+$)')
+    auto_emit = re.compile('(^[\'\"])|(^[a-zA-Z0-9_\\[\\]\'\"]+$)')
 
     def __init__(self, template, start='${', end='}$'):
         if len(start) != 2 or len(end) != 2:
