diff --git a/__tests__/compilers/compatability.test.ts b/__tests__/compilers/compatability.test.ts
index e016f9d35..71d8c2391 100644
--- a/__tests__/compilers/compatability.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/compilers/compatability.test.ts
@@ -104,4 +104,20 @@ This is an image: <img src="http://example.com/#\\>" >
 
     expect(mdx(rdmd.mdast(md)).trim()).toBe('This is an image: <img src="http://example.com/#\\>" />');
   });
+
+  it('compiles escapes', () => {
+    const md = `
+\\- not a list item
+    `;
+
+    expect(mdx(rdmd.mdast(md)).trim()).toBe('\\- not a list item');
+  });
+
+  it('compiles escapes of backslashes', () => {
+    const md = `
+\\\\**still emphatic**
+    `;
+
+    expect(mdx(rdmd.mdast(md)).trim()).toBe('\\\\**still emphatic**');
+  });
 });
diff --git a/processor/compile/compatibility.ts b/processor/compile/compatibility.ts
index e7d0c508b..2c717aa71 100644
--- a/processor/compile/compatibility.ts
+++ b/processor/compile/compatibility.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ type CompatNodes =
   | { type: NodeTypes.glossary; data: { hProperties: { term: string } } }
   | { type: NodeTypes.glossary; data: { hName: 'Glossary' }; children: [{ type: 'text'; value: string }] }
   | { type: NodeTypes.reusableContent; tag: string }
+  | { type: 'escape'; value: string }
   | Html;
 
 /*
@@ -39,6 +40,8 @@ const compatibility = (node: CompatNodes) => {
       return `<${node.tag} />`;
     case 'html':
       return html(node);
+    case 'escape':
+      return `\\${node.value}`;
     default:
       throw new Error('Unhandled node type!');
   }
diff --git a/processor/compile/index.ts b/processor/compile/index.ts
index d094fb978..b687be0eb 100644
--- a/processor/compile/index.ts
+++ b/processor/compile/index.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ function compilers() {
     [NodeTypes.variable]: compatibility,
     [NodeTypes.glossary]: compatibility,
     [NodeTypes.reusableContent]: compatibility,
+    escape: compatibility,
     html: compatibility,
   };