diff --git a/src/ambr.rs b/src/ambr.rs
index 011072713..838a7f063 100644
--- a/src/ambr.rs
+++ b/src/ambr.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use amber::pipeline_finder::PipelineFinder;
 use amber::pipeline_matcher::PipelineMatcher;
 use amber::pipeline_replacer::PipelineReplacer;
 use amber::pipeline_sorter::PipelineSorter;
-use amber::util::{as_secsf64, decode_error, exit, read_from_file};
+use amber::util::{as_secsf64, decode_error, exit, handle_escape, read_from_file};
 use crossbeam::channel::unbounded;
 use lazy_static::lazy_static;
 use serde::Deserialize;
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ fn main() {
             }
         }
     } else {
-        opt.keyword.into_bytes()
+        handle_escape(&opt.keyword).into_bytes()
     };
 
     let replacement = if opt.rep_from_file {
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ fn main() {
             }
         }
     } else {
-        opt.replacement.into_bytes()
+        handle_escape(&opt.replacement).into_bytes()
     };
 
     // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/ambs.rs b/src/ambs.rs
index ed503719f..6540c1f28 100644
--- a/src/ambs.rs
+++ b/src/ambs.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use amber::pipeline_finder::PipelineFinder;
 use amber::pipeline_matcher::PipelineMatcher;
 use amber::pipeline_printer::PipelinePrinter;
 use amber::pipeline_sorter::PipelineSorter;
-use amber::util::{as_secsf64, decode_error, exit, read_from_file};
+use amber::util::{as_secsf64, decode_error, exit, handle_escape, read_from_file};
 use crossbeam::channel::unbounded;
 use lazy_static::lazy_static;
 use serde::Deserialize;
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ fn main() {
             }
         }
     } else {
-        opt.keyword.into_bytes()
+        handle_escape(&opt.keyword).into_bytes()
     };
 
     // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/util.rs b/src/util.rs
index 637ae2ee2..7eca164cc 100644
--- a/src/util.rs
+++ b/src/util.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ pub fn exit(code: i32, console: &mut Console) -> ! {
     process::exit(code);
 }
 
+pub fn handle_escape(text: &str) -> String {
+    let text = text.replace("\\n", "\n");
+    let text = text.replace("\\r", "\r");
+    let text = text.replace("\\t", "\t");
+    let text = text.replace("\\\\", "\\");
+    text
+}
+
 #[cfg(not(windows))]
 pub fn set_c_lflag(c_lflag: Option<termios::tcflag_t>) {
     if let Ok(mut termios) = termios::Termios::from_fd(0) {