diff --git a/src/extensions/command-panel/spec/command-panel-spec.coffee b/src/extensions/command-panel/spec/command-panel-spec.coffee
index 96b7d6e98..a73155a8d 100644
--- a/src/extensions/command-panel/spec/command-panel-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/extensions/command-panel/spec/command-panel-spec.coffee
@@ -407,3 +407,8 @@ describe "CommandPanel", ->
         expect(editSession.buffer.getPath()).toBe project.resolve(operation.getPath())
         expect(editSession.getSelectedBufferRange()).toEqual operation.getBufferRange()
         expect(rootView.focus).toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+  describe ".escapedCommand()", ->
+    it "escapes characters with a backslash in front of them", ->
+      commandPanel.miniEditor.setText("a\\tb")
+      expect(commandPanel.escapedCommand()).toBe("a\tb")
diff --git a/src/extensions/command-panel/src/command-panel.coffee b/src/extensions/command-panel/src/command-panel.coffee
index b07e17d3c..fbc922c54 100644
--- a/src/extensions/command-panel/src/command-panel.coffee
+++ b/src/extensions/command-panel/src/command-panel.coffee
@@ -102,7 +102,10 @@ class CommandPanel extends View
     @previewList.hide()
     super
 
-  execute: (command = @miniEditor.getText()) ->
+  escapedCommand: ->
+    @miniEditor.getText().replace /\\(.)/, (match, charachter) -> eval("'\\#{charachter}'")
+
+  execute: (command=@escapedCommand())->
     try
       @commandInterpreter.eval(command, @rootView.getActiveEditSession()).done (operationsToPreview) =>
         @history.push(command)