diff --git a/code/datums/brain_damage/hypnosis.dm b/code/datums/brain_damage/hypnosis.dm
index edb17b57852..8c21179b03a 100644
--- a/code/datums/brain_damage/hypnosis.dm
+++ b/code/datums/brain_damage/hypnosis.dm
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 		qdel(src)
 	hypnotic_phrase = phrase
 	try
-		target_phrase = new("(\\b[hypnotic_phrase]\\b)","ig")
+		target_phrase = new("(\\b[REGEX_QUOTE(hypnotic_phrase)]\\b)","ig")
 	catch(var/exception/e)
 		stack_trace("[e] on [e.file]:[e.line]")
 		qdel(src)