--- muttlib.c.orig	2026-08-08 00:00:00 UTC
+++ muttlib.c
@@ -1756,6 +1756,12 @@
         count = 0;
         while (count < sizeof(ifstring) && *src && *src != '?' && *src != '&')
         {
+          if (*src == '\\')
+          {
+            src++;
+            if (!*src)
+              break;
+          }
           *cp++ = *src++;
           count++;
         }
@@ -1768,6 +1774,12 @@
         count = 0;
         while (count < sizeof(elsestring) && *src && *src != '?')
         {
+          if (*src == '\\')
+          {
+            src++;
+            if (!*src)
+              break;
+          }
           *cp++ = *src++;
           count++;
         }
