diff -r 9468b094ae2b Lib/idlelib/ReplaceDialog.py
--- a/Lib/idlelib/ReplaceDialog.py	Fri Oct 14 10:30:24 2011 -0500
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/ReplaceDialog.py	Fri Oct 14 14:33:11 2011 -0500
@@ -58,11 +58,14 @@
             self.do_replace()
             self.do_find(0)
 
+    def avoid_bogus_escape(self, chars):
+        return SearchEngine.re.escape(chars)
+    
     def replace_all(self, event=None):
         prog = self.engine.getprog()
         if not prog:
             return
-        repl = self.replvar.get()
+        repl = self.avoid_bogus_escape(self.replvar.get())
         text = self.text
         res = self.engine.search_text(text, prog)
         if not res:
@@ -138,7 +141,7 @@
         m = prog.match(chars, col)
         if not prog:
             return False
-        new = m.expand(self.replvar.get())
+        new = m.expand(self.avoid_bogus_escape(self.replvar.get()))
         text.mark_set("insert", first)
         text.undo_block_start()
         if m.group():