diff --git a/line.c b/line.c
index 236c49ae..cba7bdd1 100644
--- a/line.c
+++ b/line.c
@@ -633,8 +633,8 @@ ansi_step(pansi, ch)
 		/* Hyperlink ends with \7 or ESC-backslash. */
 		if (ch == '\7')
 			return ANSI_END;
-		if (pansi->prev_esc && ch == '\\')
-			return ANSI_END;
+		if (pansi->prev_esc)
+            return (ch == '\\') ? ANSI_END : ANSI_ERR;
 		pansi->prev_esc = (ch == ESC);
 		return ANSI_MID;
 	}