diff --git a/searx/webutils.py b/searx/webutils.py
index 7b9a8045c..6c023ebc3 100644
--- a/searx/webutils.py
+++ b/searx/webutils.py
@@ -174,7 +174,9 @@ def highlight_content(content, query):
             queries.extend(re.findall(regex_highlight_cjk(qs), content, flags=re.I | re.U))
     if len(queries) > 0:
         for q in set(queries):
-            content = re.sub(regex_highlight_cjk(q), f'<span class="highlight">{q}</span>', content)
+            content = re.sub(
+                regex_highlight_cjk(q), f'<span class="highlight">{q}</span>'.replace('\\', r'\\'), content
+            )
     return content