diff --git a/rslib/src/search/parser.rs b/rslib/src/search/parser.rs
index 1ba1328ea..a42d5cd84 100644
--- a/rslib/src/search/parser.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/search/parser.rs
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ fn parse_dupe(val: &str) -> ParseResult<SearchNode> {
     let text = it.next().ok_or(ParseError {})?;
     Ok(SearchNode::Duplicates {
         note_type_id: mid,
-        text: unescape_quotes(text),
+        text: unescape_quotes_and_backslashes(text),
     })
 }
 
@@ -478,6 +478,15 @@ fn unescape_quotes(s: &str) -> Cow<str> {
     }
 }
 
+/// For non-globs like dupe text without any assumption about the content
+fn unescape_quotes_and_backslashes(s: &str) -> Cow<str> {
+    if s.contains('"') || s.contains('\\') {
+        s.replace(r#"\""#, "\"").replace(r"\\", r"\").into()
+    } else {
+        s.into()
+    }
+}
+
 /// Unescape chars with special meaning to the parser.
 fn unescape(txt: &str) -> ParseResult<Cow<str>> {
     if is_invalid_escape(txt) {
diff --git a/rslib/src/search/writer.rs b/rslib/src/search/writer.rs
index 8c2199c8a..94215697e 100644
--- a/rslib/src/search/writer.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/search/writer.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ fn write_search_node(node: &SearchNode) -> String {
         NoteType(s) => quote(&format!("note:{}", s)),
         Rated { days, ease } => write_rated(days, ease),
         Tag(s) => quote(&format!("tag:{}", s)),
-        Duplicates { note_type_id, text } => quote(&format!("dupe:{},{}", note_type_id, text)),
+        Duplicates { note_type_id, text } => write_dupe(note_type_id, text),
         State(k) => write_state(k),
         Flag(u) => format!("\"flag:{}\"", u),
         NoteIDs(s) => format!("\"nid:{}\"", s),
@@ -163,6 +163,12 @@ fn write_rated(days: &u32, ease: &EaseKind) -> String {
     }
 }
 
+/// Escape double quotes and backslashes: \"
+fn write_dupe(note_type_id: &NoteTypeIDType, text: &str) -> String {
+    let esc = text.replace(r"\", r"\\").replace('"', r#"\""#);
+    format!("\"dupe:{},{}\"", note_type_id, esc)
+}
+
 fn write_state(kind: &StateKind) -> String {
     use StateKind::*;
     format!(