diff --git a/mode/crystal/crystal.js b/mode/crystal/crystal.js
index 73b0dbe13c..b22c5dbe41 100644
--- a/mode/crystal/crystal.js
+++ b/mode/crystal/crystal.js
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@
               return "string";
             }
 
-            escaped = embed && stream.next() == "\\";
+            escaped = stream.next() == "\\" && embed;
           } else {
             stream.next();
             escaped = false;