diff --git a/highlighters/brackets/brackets-highlighter.zsh b/highlighters/brackets/brackets-highlighter.zsh
index bc388fdbf..6b3097ca3 100644
--- a/highlighters/brackets/brackets-highlighter.zsh
+++ b/highlighters/brackets/brackets-highlighter.zsh
@@ -47,20 +47,29 @@ _zsh_highlight_highlighter_brackets_predicate()
 _zsh_highlight_highlighter_brackets_paint()
 {
   local char style
-  local -i bracket_color_size=${#ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[(I)bracket-level-*]} buflen=${#BUFFER} level=0 matchingpos pos
+  local -i bracket_color_size=${#ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[(I)bracket-level-*]} buflen=${#BUFFER} level=0 matchingpos pos escaped_state
   local -A levelpos lastoflevel matching
 
   # Find all brackets and remember which one is matching
   pos=0
+  escaped_state=0
   for char in ${(s..)BUFFER} ; do
     (( ++pos ))
+    if [[ $char = "\\" ]]; then
+      (( escaped_state = !escaped_state ))
+      continue
+    fi
     case $char in
       ["([{"])
-        levelpos[$pos]=$((++level))
-        lastoflevel[$level]=$pos
+        if (( ! escaped_state )); then
+          levelpos[$pos]=$((++level))
+          lastoflevel[$level]=$pos
+        fi
         ;;
       [")]}"])
-        if (( level > 0 )); then
+        if (( escaped_state )); then
+          :
+        elif (( level > 0 )); then
           matchingpos=$lastoflevel[$level]
           levelpos[$pos]=$((level--))
           if _zsh_highlight_brackets_match $matchingpos $pos; then
@@ -72,6 +81,7 @@ _zsh_highlight_highlighter_brackets_paint()
         fi
         ;;
     esac
+    escaped_state=0
   done
 
   # Now highlight all found brackets
diff --git a/highlighters/brackets/test-data/escaped-brackets.zsh b/highlighters/brackets/test-data/escaped-brackets.zsh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dc7371d51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/highlighters/brackets/test-data/escaped-brackets.zsh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env zsh
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Copyright (c) 2020 zsh-syntax-highlighting contributors
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted
+# provided that the following conditions are met:
+#
+#  * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions
+#    and the following disclaimer.
+#  * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
+#    conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided
+#    with the distribution.
+#  * Neither the name of the zsh-syntax-highlighting contributors nor the names of its contributors
+#    may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior
+#    written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR
+# CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+# DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER
+# IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
+# OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# -*- mode: zsh; sh-indentation: 2; indent-tabs-mode: nil; sh-basic-offset: 2; -*-
+# vim: ft=zsh sw=2 ts=2 et
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+unsorted=1
+
+ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-1]=
+ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-2]=
+ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[bracket-level-3]=
+# expect no matchingbracket highlight
+ZSH_HIGHLIGHT_STYLES[cursor-matchingbracket]=
+
+CURSOR=9 # cursor is zero-based
+
+BUFFER=$'if [[ "\\]" =~ "[\\)\\}\\]]" ]]; then echo true; fi'
+
+expected_region_highlight=(
+  '23 23 bracket-level-3' # ]
+  '4 4 bracket-level-1' # [
+  '5 5 bracket-level-2' # [
+  '26 26 bracket-level-2' # ]
+  '27 27 bracket-level-1' # ]
+  '16 16 bracket-level-3' # [
+)