diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 49624208..abad33bb 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+Upcoming (TBD)
+==============
+
+Features
+---------
+* Add prompt format string for literal backslash.
+
+
 1.64.0 (2026/03/13)
 ==============
 
diff --git a/mycli/main.py b/mycli/main.py
index 5a8390ca..b8a4330e 100755
--- a/mycli/main.py
+++ b/mycli/main.py
@@ -1702,6 +1702,8 @@ def get_prompt(self, string: str, _render_counter: int) -> str:
         if re.match(r'^[\d\.]+$', short_prompt_host):
             short_prompt_host = prompt_host
         now = datetime.now()
+        backslash_placeholder = '\ufffc_backslash'
+        string = string.replace('\\\\', backslash_placeholder)
         string = string.replace("\\u", sqlexecute.user or "(none)")
         string = string.replace("\\h", prompt_host or "(none)")
         string = string.replace("\\H", short_prompt_host or "(none)")
@@ -1721,6 +1723,7 @@ def get_prompt(self, string: str, _render_counter: int) -> str:
         string = string.replace("\\K", sqlexecute.socket or str(sqlexecute.port))
         string = string.replace("\\A", self.dsn_alias or "(none)")
         string = string.replace("\\_", " ")
+        string = string.replace(backslash_placeholder, '\\')
 
         # jump through hoops for the test environment, and for efficiency
         if hasattr(sqlexecute, 'conn') and sqlexecute.conn is not None:
diff --git a/mycli/myclirc b/mycli/myclirc
index b06c77a6..ff44a15e 100644
--- a/mycli/myclirc
+++ b/mycli/myclirc
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ wider_completion_menu = False
 # * \A - DSN alias
 # * \n - a newline
 # * \_ - a space
+# * \\ - a literal backslash
 # * \x1b[...m - an ANSI escape sequence (can style with color)
 prompt = '\t \u@\h:\d> '
 prompt_continuation = '->'
diff --git a/test/myclirc b/test/myclirc
index d10b90ee..fa10eabf 100644
--- a/test/myclirc
+++ b/test/myclirc
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ wider_completion_menu = False
 # * \A - DSN alias
 # * \n - a newline
 # * \_ - a space
+# * \\ - a literal backslash
 # * \x1b[...m - an ANSI escape sequence (can style with color)
 prompt = "\t \u@\h:\d> "
 prompt_continuation = ->