diff --git a/src/link/script.c b/src/link/script.c
index dacc46cb..6c985ad5 100644
--- a/src/link/script.c
+++ b/src/link/script.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 #include "extern/err.h"
 
-FILE * linkerScript;
+FILE *linkerScript;
 char *includeFileName;
 
 static uint32_t lineNo;
@@ -223,12 +223,28 @@ static struct LinkerScriptToken *nextToken(void)
 
 		do {
 			curchar = readChar(linkerScript);
-			if (curchar == EOF || isNewline(curchar))
+			if (curchar == EOF || isNewline(curchar)) {
 				errx(1, "%s(%" PRIu32 "): Unterminated string",
 				     linkerScriptName, lineNo);
-			else if (curchar == '"')
+			} else if (curchar == '"') {
 				/* Quotes force a string termination */
 				curchar = '\0';
+			} else if (curchar == '\\') {
+				/* Backslashes are escape sequences */
+				curchar = readChar(linkerScript);
+				if (curchar == EOF || isNewline(curchar))
+					errx(1, "%s(%" PRIu32 "): Unterminated string",
+					     linkerScriptName, lineNo);
+				else if (curchar == 'n')
+					curchar = '\n';
+				else if (curchar == 'r')
+					curchar = '\r';
+				else if (curchar == 't')
+					curchar = '\t';
+				else if (curchar != '\\' && curchar != '"')
+					errx(1, "%s(%" PRIu32 "): Illegal character escape",
+					     linkerScriptName, lineNo);
+			}
 
 			if (size >= capacity || token.attr.string == NULL) {
 				capacity *= 2;
diff --git a/test/link/linkerscript-escapes-test.link b/test/link/linkerscript-escapes-test.link
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d3c44f1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/link/linkerscript-escapes-test.link
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+ROM0
+	"A\"B\tC\rD\nE"
+	"in\{valid"
diff --git a/test/link/linkerscript-escapes-test.out b/test/link/linkerscript-escapes-test.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa3fd48f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/link/linkerscript-escapes-test.out
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+error: ./linkerscript-escapes-test.link(3): Illegal character escape
diff --git a/test/link/linkerscript-escapes.asm b/test/link/linkerscript-escapes.asm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a379c665
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/link/linkerscript-escapes.asm
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+SECTION "A\"B\tC\rD\nE", ROM0
+DS $1000
+SECTION "in\{valid", ROM0
+DS $1000