diff --git a/src/URI.js b/src/URI.js
index 212454eb..57f1fa9d 100644
--- a/src/URI.js
+++ b/src/URI.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 (function(undefined) {
 
 function escapeRegEx(string) {
-    return string.replace(/[$^\.*+?()[\\]{}|]/g, "\\" + "$1");
+    return string.replace(/[$^\\.*+?()[\]{}|]/g, "\\$&");
 }
 
 function isArray(obj) {