diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/filters/latex.py b/IPython/nbconvert/filters/latex.py
index 1942ffb..8936a72 100755
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/filters/latex.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/filters/latex.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import re
 #Latex substitutions for escaping latex.
 LATEX_SUBS = (
     (re.compile('\033\[[0-9;]+m'),''),  # handle console escapes
-    (re.compile(r'\\'), r'\\textbackslash'),
+    (re.compile(r'\\'), r'{\\textbackslash}'),
     (re.compile(r'([{}_#%&$])'), r'\\\1'),
     (re.compile(r'~'), r'\~{}'),
     (re.compile(r'\^'), r'\^{}'),
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/templates/latex/sphinx.tplx b/IPython/nbconvert/templates/latex/sphinx.tplx
index adeeb49..ee59ad8 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/templates/latex/sphinx.tplx
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/templates/latex/sphinx.tplx
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ Note: For best display, use latex syntax highlighting. =))
 ((* macro custom_verbatim(text) -*))
     \begin{alltt}
     ((*- if resources.sphinx.centeroutput *))\begin{center} ((* endif -*))
-((( text | wrap_text(wrap_size) )))
+((( text | wrap_text(wrap_size) | escape_latex )))
     ((*- if resources.sphinx.centeroutput *))\end{center}((* endif -*))
     \end{alltt}
 ((*- endmacro *))