diff --git a/d2layouts/d2dagrelayout/layout.go b/d2layouts/d2dagrelayout/layout.go
index e1d29175e..ec72a91c6 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2dagrelayout/layout.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2dagrelayout/layout.go
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func escapeID(id string) string {
 	// fixes \\
 	id = strings.ReplaceAll(id, "\\", `\\`)
 	// replaces \n with \\n whenever \n is not preceded by \ (does not replace \\n)
-	re := regexp.MustCompile(`[^\\](\n)`)
+	re := regexp.MustCompile(`[^\\]\n`)
 	id = re.ReplaceAllString(id, `\\n`)
 	// avoid an unescaped \r becoming a \n in the layout result
 	id = strings.ReplaceAll(id, "\r", `\r`)