diff --git a/tildes/tests/test_comment_user_mentions.py b/tildes/tests/test_comment_user_mentions.py
index eacbc52..ac2ef72 100644
--- a/tildes/tests/test_comment_user_mentions.py
+++ b/tildes/tests/test_comment_user_mentions.py
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ def test_get_mentions_for_comment(db, user_list, comment):
         assert mentions[index].user == user
 
 
+def test_get_mentions_for_comment_escapes_with_backslash(db, user_list, comment):
+    """Test that backslash escaped mentions are ignored."""
+    comment.markdown = "@foo @bar. \@baz!"
+    mentions = CommentNotification.get_mentions_for_comment(db, comment)
+    assert len(mentions) == 2
+    assert "baz" not in [mention.user for mention in mentions]
+
+
 def test_mention_filtering_parent_comment(db, topic, user_list):
     """Test notification filtering for parent comments."""
     parent_comment = Comment(topic, user_list[0], "Comment content.")
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/lib/markdown.py b/tildes/tildes/lib/markdown.py
index e1dcda4..9bde3b3 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/lib/markdown.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/lib/markdown.py
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ class LinkifyFilter(Filter):
     # Regex that finds probable references to users. As above, this isn't "perfect"
     # either but works as an initial pass with the validity of the username checked more
     # carefully later.
-    USERNAME_REFERENCE_REGEX = re.compile(r"(?<!\w)(?:/?u/|@)([\w-]+)\b")
+    USERNAME_REFERENCE_REGEX = re.compile(r"(?<![\w\\])(?:/?u/|@)([\w-]+)\b")
 
     def __init__(
         self, source: NonRecursiveTreeWalker, skip_tags: Optional[List[str]] = None