diff --git a/autoload/diff.vim b/autoload/diff.vim
index 8d5d1e0..e3ffa00 100644
--- a/autoload/diff.vim
+++ b/autoload/diff.vim
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let s:grep_available = executable('grep')
-let s:grep_command = ' | ' . (g:gitgutter_escape_grep ? '\grep' : 'grep') . ' -e "^@@ "'
+let s:grep_command = ' | ' . (g:gitgutter_escape_grep ? '\grep' : 'grep') . ' -e ' . utility#shellescape('^@@ ')
 let s:hunk_re = '^@@ -\(\d\+\),\?\(\d*\) +\(\d\+\),\?\(\d*\) @@'