diff --git a/src/pcre2_convert.c b/src/pcre2_convert.c
index ee3f055..8036ac8 100644
--- a/src/pcre2_convert.c
+++ b/src/pcre2_convert.c
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ while (plength > 0)
     break;  
 
     default:
-    if (c < 256 && strchr("\\{}?*+[]()|.^$", c) != NULL)
+    if (c < 256 && strchr("\\{}?*+[]()|", c) != NULL)
       {
       PUTCHARS(STR_BACKSLASH);
       }
diff --git a/testdata/testinput24 b/testdata/testinput24
index 62f160a..6a22f9d 100644
--- a/testdata/testinput24
+++ b/testdata/testinput24
@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@
 \= Expect no match
     a1b
 
+/how.to/
+
+/^how to/
+
 #pattern convert=unset
 
 /abc/
diff --git a/testdata/testoutput24 b/testdata/testoutput24
index 06d5549..ab133d7 100644
--- a/testdata/testoutput24
+++ b/testdata/testoutput24
@@ -411,6 +411,12 @@ a*b\+c+[def]\(ab\)(cd)
     a1b
 No match
 
+/how.to/
+how.to
+
+/^how to/
+^how to
+
 #pattern convert=unset
 
 /abc/