diff --git a/src/ircutils.py b/src/ircutils.py
index dc7050ed8..5fd94da6a 100644
--- a/src/ircutils.py
+++ b/src/ircutils.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def nickEqual(nick1, nick2):
     """Returns True if nick1 == nick2 according to IRC case rules."""
     return toLower(nick1) == toLower(nick2)
 
-_nickchars = r'-[]\\`^{}'
+_nickchars = r'-[]\`^{}'
 _nickre = re.compile(r'^[%sA-Za-z][%s0-9A-Za-z]+$' % (re.escape(_nickchars),
                                                       re.escape(_nickchars)))
 def isNick(s):