diff --git a/bink.py b/bink.py
index a6b5537..2cbcd8b 100755
--- a/bink.py
+++ b/bink.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ if len(sys.argv) > 1:
 import urwid
 
 current_user = getpwuid(os.getuid()).pw_name
-name_re = compile(f"(?<!\w)[@~]?{current_user}")
+name_re = compile(f"(?<!\\w)[@~]?{current_user}")
 footer = "[c]reate [r]efresh [q]uit | scrolling: arrows, j/k, space, page up/down, ctrl-d/ctrl-u"
 attrmap = [
     ("bold", "default,bold", "default"),