diff --git a/lib/linter.js b/lib/linter.js
index 8f1520aafb47..31513ff3d60e 100755
--- a/lib/linter.js
+++ b/lib/linter.js
@@ -337,7 +337,11 @@ function modifyConfigsFromComments(filename, ast, config, linterContext) {
 
                         if (parseResult.success) {
                             Object.keys(parseResult.config).forEach(name => {
-                                const ruleValue = parseResult.config[name];
+                                let ruleValue = parseResult.config[name];
+
+                                if (typeof ruleValue === "string") {
+                                    ruleValue = ruleValue.replace(/\\/g, "\\\\");
+                                }
 
                                 validator.validateRuleOptions(name, ruleValue, `${filename} line ${comment.loc.start.line}`, linterContext.rules);
                                 commentRules[name] = ruleValue;