diff --git a/babi/reg.py b/babi/reg.py
index 14c73a0..ad1118c 100644
--- a/babi/reg.py
+++ b/babi/reg.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def _replace_esc(s: str, chars: str) -> str:
 
 class _Reg:
     def __init__(self, s: str) -> None:
-        self._pattern = s
+        self._pattern = _replace_esc(s, 'z')
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f'{type(self).__name__}({self._pattern!r})'
diff --git a/tests/highlight_test.py b/tests/highlight_test.py
index e79f0e5..71300a4 100644
--- a/tests/highlight_test.py
+++ b/tests/highlight_test.py
@@ -582,3 +582,26 @@ def test_begin_end_substitute_special_chars(compiler_state):
         Region(1, 7, ('test', 'italic')),
         Region(7, 8, ('test', 'italic')),
     )
+
+
+def test_backslash_z(compiler_state):
+    # similar to text.git-commit grammar, \z matches nothing!
+    compiler, state = compiler_state({
+        'scopeName': 'test',
+        'patterns': [
+            {'begin': '#', 'end': r'\z', 'name': 'comment'},
+            {'name': 'other', 'match': '.'},
+        ],
+    })
+
+    state, regions1 = highlight_line(compiler, state, '# comment', True)
+    state, regions2 = highlight_line(compiler, state, 'other?', False)
+
+    assert regions1 == (
+        Region(0, 1, ('test', 'comment')),
+        Region(1, 9, ('test', 'comment')),
+    )
+
+    assert regions2 == (
+        Region(0, 6, ('test', 'comment')),
+    )