diff --git a/lib/coffee_script/lexer.rb b/lib/coffee_script/lexer.rb
index 5c5bd31d..6f3137da 100644
--- a/lib/coffee_script/lexer.rb
+++ b/lib/coffee_script/lexer.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class Lexer
 
   IDENTIFIER = /\A([a-zA-Z$_]\w*)/
   NUMBER     = /\A([0-9]+(\.[0-9]+)?)/
-  STRING     = /\A("(.*?)"|'(.*?)')/m
+  STRING     = /\A("(.*?)[^\\]"|'(.*?)[^\\]')/m
   JS         = /\A(`(.*?)`)/
   OPERATOR   = /\A([+\*&|\/\-%=<>]+)/
   WHITESPACE = /\A([ \t\r]+)/