diff --git a/src/ex_getln.c b/src/ex_getln.c
index ba8fde6..11de136 100644
--- a/src/ex_getln.c
+++ b/src/ex_getln.c
@@ -1492,7 +1492,7 @@
 			    if (c != NUL)
 			    {
 				if (c == firstc || vim_strchr((char_u *)(
-					      p_magic ? "\\^$.*[" : "\\^$"), c)
+					      p_magic ? "\\~^$.*[" : "\\^$"), c)
 								       != NULL)
 				{
 				    /* put a backslash before special