diff --git a/stead/stead.lua b/stead/stead.lua
index 88831a5..48cbb5e 100644
--- a/stead/stead.lua
+++ b/stead/stead.lua
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ function obj_xref(self,str)
 		return str;
 	end
 	local s = stead.string.gsub(str, '\\?[\\{}]', 
-		{ ['{'] = '\001', ['}'] = '\002', [ '\\{' ] = '{', [ '\\}' ] = '}' }):gsub('\001([^\002]+)\002', xrefrep);
+		{ ['{'] = '\001', ['}'] = '\002', [ '\\{' ] = '{', [ '\\}' ] = '}' }):gsub('\001([^\002]+)\002', xrefrep):gsub('[\001\002]', { ['\001'] = '{', ['\002'] = '}' });
 	return s;
 end
 
diff --git a/stead/xact.lua b/stead/xact.lua
index 53b00e1..6b20881 100644
--- a/stead/xact.lua
+++ b/stead/xact.lua
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ __do_xact = function(str, self)
 	end
 	if type(str) ~= 'string' then return end
 	local s = stead.string.gsub(str, '\\?[\\{}]', 
-		{ ['{'] = '\001', ['}'] = '\002' }):gsub('\001([^\002]+)\002', xrefrep);	
+		{ ['{'] = '\001', ['}'] = '\002' }):gsub('\001([^\002]+)\002', xrefrep):gsub('[\001\002]', { ['\001'] = '{', ['\002'] = '}' });	
 	return s;
 end