diff --git a/src/ex_docmd.c b/src/ex_docmd.c
index c33dcbc..a35924a 100644
--- a/src/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/ex_docmd.c
@@ -2275,7 +2275,7 @@
      */
     if ((ea.argt & EX_TRLBAR) && !ea.usefilter)
     {
-	separate_nextcmd(&ea);
+	separate_nextcmd(&ea, FALSE);
     }
     else if (ea.cmdidx == CMD_bang
 	    || ea.cmdidx == CMD_terminal
@@ -5081,9 +5081,10 @@
 
 /*
  * Check for '|' to separate commands and '"' to start comments.
+ * If "keep_backslash" is TRUE do not remove any backslash.
  */
     void
-separate_nextcmd(exarg_T *eap)
+separate_nextcmd(exarg_T *eap, int keep_backslash)
 {
     char_u	*p;
 
@@ -5097,7 +5098,7 @@
     {
 	if (*p == Ctrl_V)
 	{
-	    if (eap->argt & (EX_CTRLV | EX_XFILE))
+	    if ((eap->argt & (EX_CTRLV | EX_XFILE)) || keep_backslash)
 		++p;		// skip CTRL-V and next char
 	    else
 				// remove CTRL-V and skip next char
@@ -5144,8 +5145,11 @@
 	    if ((vim_strchr(p_cpo, CPO_BAR) == NULL
 			      || !(eap->argt & EX_CTRLV)) && *(p - 1) == '\\')
 	    {
-		STRMOVE(p - 1, p);	// remove the '\'
-		--p;
+		if (!keep_backslash)
+		{
+		    STRMOVE(p - 1, p);	// remove the '\'
+		    --p;
+		}
 	    }
 	    else
 	    {