diff --git a/plugins/Lookup.py b/plugins/Lookup.py
index 529b22c24..e421a9c80 100644
--- a/plugins/Lookup.py
+++ b/plugins/Lookup.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ __revision__ = "$Id$"
 import plugins
 
 import os
+import re
 import sys
 
 import sqlite
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@ class Lookup(callbacks.Privmsg):
         except sqlite.DatabaseError:
             irc.error(msg, 'No such lookup exists.')
 
+    _splitRe = re.compile(r'(?<!\\):')
     def add(self, irc, msg, args):
         """<name> <filename>
 
@@ -145,7 +147,8 @@ class Lookup(callbacks.Privmsg):
                 if not line or line.startswith('#'):
                     continue
                 try:
-                    (key, value) = line.split(':', 1)
+                    (key, value) = self._splitRe.split(line, 1)
+                    key = key.replace('\\:', ':')
                 except ValueError:
                     irc.error(msg, 'Invalid line in %s: %r' % (filename, line))
                     return
diff --git a/test/test_Lookup.py b/test/test_Lookup.py
index 57bccaf82..1c3a01077 100644
--- a/test/test_Lookup.py
+++ b/test/test_Lookup.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ if sqlite:
             'foo': 'bar',
             'bar': 'baz',
             'your mom': 'my mom',
+            'foo\\:bar': 'baz',
         }
         def setUp(self):
             PluginTestCase.setUp(self)
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ if sqlite:
             self.assertResponse('test bar', 'baz')
             self.assertResponse('test your mom', 'my mom')
             self.assertError('test something not in there')
+            self.assertResponse('test foo:bar', 'baz')
             self.assertNotError('lookup remove test')
             try:
                 original = conf.replyWhenNotCommand