diff --git a/language-docker.cabal b/language-docker.cabal
index 780dcc0..ab78b01 100644
--- a/language-docker.cabal
+++ b/language-docker.cabal
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ cabal-version: 1.12
 --
 -- see: https://github.com/sol/hpack
 --
--- hash: 4c166335e4f8bb1979bf3b9b406bb34b47d9c7f6a89f165a58ba5c696e84e54e
+-- hash: 2c9caaab990151b5cf17795136674a3655d2422f22f1e4c84806741c1309e5bd
 
 name:           language-docker
-version:        9.4.0
+version:        10.0.0
 synopsis:       Dockerfile parser, pretty-printer and embedded DSL
 description:    All functions for parsing and pretty-printing Dockerfiles are exported through @Language.Docker@. For more fine-grained operations look for specific modules that implement a certain functionality.
                 See the <https://github.com/hadolint/language-docker GitHub project> for the source-code and examples.
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ test-suite hspec
       Paths_language_docker
   hs-source-dirs:
       test
-  default-extensions: OverloadedStrings OverloadedStrings OverloadedLists
+  default-extensions: OverloadedStrings ImplicitParams Rank2Types OverloadedLists
   build-depends:
       HUnit >=1.2
     , QuickCheck
diff --git a/package.yaml b/package.yaml
index 4270f95..1a58fb6 100644
--- a/package.yaml
+++ b/package.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name: language-docker
-version: '9.4.0'
+version: '10.0.0'
 synopsis: Dockerfile parser, pretty-printer and embedded DSL
 description: 'All functions for parsing and pretty-printing Dockerfiles are
   exported through @Language.Docker@. For more fine-grained operations look for
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ extra-source-files:
   - test/fixtures/2.Dockerfile
 default-extensions:
   - OverloadedStrings
+  - ImplicitParams
+  - Rank2Types
 
 dependencies:
   - base >=4.8 && <5
@@ -48,9 +50,6 @@ library:
   - -Wredundant-constraints
   - -fno-warn-unused-do-bind
   - -fno-warn-orphans
-  default-extensions:
-    - ImplicitParams
-    - Rank2Types
   exposed-modules:
   - Language.Docker
   - Language.Docker.Parser
@@ -62,7 +61,6 @@ tests:
     main: Spec.hs
     source-dirs: test
     default-extensions:
-      - OverloadedStrings
       - OverloadedLists
     dependencies:
     - hspec
diff --git a/src/Language/Docker/Parser.hs b/src/Language/Docker/Parser.hs
index d17a857..cc783fe 100644
--- a/src/Language/Docker/Parser.hs
+++ b/src/Language/Docker/Parser.hs
@@ -68,6 +68,3 @@ doParse path txt = do
 -- | Changes crlf line endings to simple line endings
 dos2unix :: T.Text -> T.Text
 dos2unix = T.replace "\r\n" "\n"
-
-defaultEsc :: Char
-defaultEsc = '\\'
diff --git a/src/Language/Docker/PrettyPrint.hs b/src/Language/Docker/PrettyPrint.hs
index 08de49d..d9e8b83 100644
--- a/src/Language/Docker/PrettyPrint.hs
+++ b/src/Language/Docker/PrettyPrint.hs
@@ -27,22 +27,29 @@ data EscapeAccum
         escaping :: !Bool
       }
 
-instance Pretty (Arguments Text) where
-  pretty = prettyPrintArguments
-
 -- | Pretty print a 'Dockerfile' to a 'Text'
 prettyPrint :: Dockerfile -> L.Text
 prettyPrint = renderLazy . layoutPretty opts . prettyPrintDockerfile
   where
     opts = LayoutOptions Unbounded
 
-prettyPrintDockerfile :: Pretty (Arguments args) => [InstructionPos args] -> Doc ann
+prettyPrintDockerfile :: [InstructionPos Text] -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintDockerfile instr = doPrint instr <> "\n"
   where
-    doPrint = vsep . fmap prettyPrintInstructionPos
+    doPrint ips =
+      let ?esc = findEscapeChar ips
+       in (vsep . fmap prettyPrintInstructionPos ) ips
+
+findEscapeChar ::  [InstructionPos args] -> Char
+findEscapeChar [] = defaultEsc
+findEscapeChar (i:is) =
+  case i of
+    InstructionPos {instruction = (Pragma (Escape (EscapeChar c)))} -> c
+    InstructionPos {instruction = (Pragma _)} -> findEscapeChar is
+    _ -> defaultEsc
 
 -- | Pretty print a 'InstructionPos' to a 'Doc'
-prettyPrintInstructionPos :: Pretty (Arguments args) => InstructionPos args -> Doc ann
+prettyPrintInstructionPos :: (?esc :: Char) => InstructionPos Text -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintInstructionPos (InstructionPos i _ _) = prettyPrintInstruction i
 
 prettyPrintImage :: Image -> Doc ann
@@ -75,42 +82,41 @@ prettyPrintBaseImage BaseImage {..} = do
         Nothing -> mempty
         Just (Digest d) -> "@" <> pretty d
 
-prettyPrintPairs :: Pairs -> Doc ann
+prettyPrintPairs :: (?esc :: Char) => Pairs -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintPairs ps = align $ sepLine $ fmap prettyPrintPair ps
   where
-    sepLine = concatWith (\x y -> x <> " \\" <> line <> y)
+    sepLine = concatWith (\x y -> x <> " " <> pretty ?esc <> line <> y)
 
-prettyPrintPair :: (Text, Text) -> Doc ann
+prettyPrintPair :: (?esc :: Char) => (Text, Text) -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintPair (k, v) = pretty k <> pretty '=' <> doubleQoute v
 
-prettyPrintArguments :: Arguments Text -> Doc ann
+prettyPrintArguments :: (?esc :: Char) => Arguments Text -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintArguments (ArgumentsList as) = prettyPrintJSON (Text.words as)
 prettyPrintArguments (ArgumentsText as) = hsep (fmap helper (Text.words as))
   where
-    helper "&&" = "\\\n &&"
+    helper "&&" = pretty ?esc <> "\n &&"
     helper a = pretty a
 
-prettyPrintJSON :: [Text] -> Doc ann
+prettyPrintJSON :: (?esc :: Char) => [Text] -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintJSON args = list (fmap doubleQoute args)
 
-doubleQoute :: Text -> Doc ann
+doubleQoute :: (?esc :: Char) => Text -> Doc ann
 doubleQoute w = enclose dquote dquote (pretty (escapeQuotes w))
 
-escapeQuotes :: Text -> L.Text
+escapeQuotes :: (?esc :: Char) => Text -> L.Text
 escapeQuotes text =
   case Text.foldr accumulate (EscapeAccum mempty 0 False) text of
     EscapeAccum buffer _ False -> B.toLazyText buffer
     EscapeAccum buffer count True ->
       case count `mod` 2 of
-        0 -> B.toLazyText (B.singleton '\\' <> buffer)
+        0 -> B.toLazyText (B.singleton ?esc <> buffer)
         _ -> B.toLazyText buffer
   where
     accumulate '"' EscapeAccum {buffer, escaping = False} =
       EscapeAccum (B.singleton '"' <> buffer) 0 True
-    accumulate '\\' EscapeAccum {buffer, escaping = True, count} =
-      EscapeAccum (B.singleton '\\' <> buffer) (count + 1) True
     accumulate c EscapeAccum {buffer, escaping = True, count}
-      | even count = EscapeAccum (B.singleton c <> B.singleton '\\' <> buffer) 0 False
+      | c == ?esc = EscapeAccum (B.singleton ?esc <> buffer) (count + 1) True
+      | even count = EscapeAccum (B.singleton c <> B.singleton ?esc <> buffer) 0 False
       | otherwise = EscapeAccum (B.singleton c <> buffer) 0 False -- It was already escaped
     accumulate c EscapeAccum {buffer, escaping = False} =
       EscapeAccum (B.singleton c <> buffer) 0 False
@@ -159,7 +165,7 @@ prettyPrintRetries = maybe mempty pp
   where
     pp (Retries r) = "--retries=" <> pretty r
 
-prettyPrintRunMount :: Maybe RunMount -> Doc ann
+prettyPrintRunMount :: (?esc :: Char) => Maybe RunMount -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintRunMount Nothing = mempty
 prettyPrintRunMount (Just mount) = "--mount="
   <> case mount of
@@ -235,7 +241,7 @@ prettyPrintPragma :: PragmaDirective -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintPragma (Escape (EscapeChar esc)) = "escape = " <> pretty esc
 prettyPrintPragma (Syntax (SyntaxImage img)) = "syntax = " <> prettyPrintImage img
 
-prettyPrintInstruction :: Pretty (Arguments args) => Instruction args -> Doc ann
+prettyPrintInstruction :: (?esc :: Char) => Instruction Text -> Doc ann
 prettyPrintInstruction i =
   case i of
     Maintainer m -> do
@@ -249,7 +255,7 @@ prettyPrintInstruction i =
       pretty k <> "=" <> pretty v
     Entrypoint e -> do
       "ENTRYPOINT"
-      pretty e
+      prettyPrintArguments e
     Stopsignal s -> do
       "STOPSIGNAL"
       pretty s
@@ -267,7 +273,7 @@ prettyPrintInstruction i =
       prettyPrintRunMount mount
       prettyPrintRunNetwork network
       prettyPrintRunSecurity security
-      pretty c
+      prettyPrintArguments c
     Copy CopyArgs {sourcePaths, targetPath, chownFlag, chmodFlag, sourceFlag} -> do
       "COPY"
       prettyPrintChown chownFlag
@@ -276,7 +282,7 @@ prettyPrintInstruction i =
       prettyPrintFileList sourcePaths targetPath
     Cmd c -> do
       "CMD"
-      pretty c
+      prettyPrintArguments c
     Label l -> do
       "LABEL"
       prettyPrintPairs l
@@ -305,7 +311,7 @@ prettyPrintInstruction i =
       prettyPrintFileList sourcePaths targetPath
     Shell args -> do
       "SHELL"
-      pretty args
+      prettyPrintArguments args
     Healthcheck NoCheck -> "HEALTHCHECK NONE"
     Healthcheck (Check CheckArgs {..}) -> do
       "HEALTHCHECK"
@@ -314,7 +320,7 @@ prettyPrintInstruction i =
       prettyPrintDuration "--start-period=" startPeriod
       prettyPrintRetries retries
       "CMD"
-      pretty checkCommand
+      prettyPrintArguments checkCommand
   where
     (>>) = spaceCat
 
diff --git a/src/Language/Docker/Syntax.hs b/src/Language/Docker/Syntax.hs
index 1b27bdb..91538ea 100644
--- a/src/Language/Docker/Syntax.hs
+++ b/src/Language/Docker/Syntax.hs
@@ -371,3 +371,6 @@ data InstructionPos args
         lineNumber :: !Linenumber
       }
   deriving (Eq, Ord, Show, Functor)
+
+defaultEsc :: Char
+defaultEsc = '\\'
diff --git a/test/Language/Docker/IntegrationSpec.hs b/test/Language/Docker/IntegrationSpec.hs
index d2cfbab..04c01dc 100644
--- a/test/Language/Docker/IntegrationSpec.hs
+++ b/test/Language/Docker/IntegrationSpec.hs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import qualified Data.Text as Text
 import qualified Data.Text.IO
 import qualified Data.Text.Lazy.IO as L
 import Language.Docker.Parser
-import Language.Docker.PrettyPrint (prettyPrint)
+import Language.Docker.PrettyPrint (prettyPrint, prettyPrintDockerfile)
 import Test.HUnit hiding (Label)
 import Test.Hspec
 import Text.Megaparsec hiding (Label)
@@ -42,6 +42,34 @@ spec = do
         Right a -> L.putStr $ prettyPrint a
         Left err -> assertFailure $ errorBundlePretty err
 
+  describe "escape character detection logic" $ do
+    it "ensure the pretty printer respects escape pragmas" $ do
+      fromDisk <- Data.Text.IO.readFile "test/fixtures/6.Dockerfile"
+      let ast = parseText fromDisk
+       in case ast of
+          Right a ->
+             let fromAst = prettyPrintDockerfile a
+              in assertEqual "error" fromDisk (Text.pack . show $ fromAst)
+          Left err -> assertFailure $ errorBundlePretty err
+
+    it "ensure escape character '\\' is used as default" $ do
+      fromDisk <- Data.Text.IO.readFile "test/fixtures/7.Dockerfile"
+      let ast = parseText fromDisk
+       in case ast of
+          Right a ->
+             let fromAst = prettyPrintDockerfile a
+              in assertEqual "error" fromDisk (Text.pack . show $ fromAst)
+          Left err -> assertFailure $ errorBundlePretty err
+
+    it "ensure the printer ignores escape pragmas in the wrong place" $ do
+      fromDisk <- Data.Text.IO.readFile "test/fixtures/8.Dockerfile"
+      let ast = parseText fromDisk
+       in case ast of
+          Right a ->
+             let fromAst = prettyPrintDockerfile a
+              in assertEqual "error" fromDisk (Text.pack . show $ fromAst)
+          Left err -> assertFailure $ errorBundlePretty err
+
   describe "parse text" $ do
     it "1.Dockerfile" $ do
       contents <- Data.Text.IO.readFile "test/fixtures/1.Dockerfile"
diff --git a/test/Language/Docker/PrettyPrintSpec.hs b/test/Language/Docker/PrettyPrintSpec.hs
index 1920250..3f73045 100644
--- a/test/Language/Docker/PrettyPrintSpec.hs
+++ b/test/Language/Docker/PrettyPrintSpec.hs
@@ -145,4 +145,7 @@ assertPretty expected instruction = assertEqual
 
 prettyPrintStrict :: Instruction Text.Text -> Text.Text
 prettyPrintStrict =
-  renderStrict . layoutPretty (LayoutOptions Unbounded) . prettyPrintInstruction
+  let ?esc = defaultEsc
+   in renderStrict
+      . layoutPretty (LayoutOptions Unbounded)
+      . prettyPrintInstruction
diff --git a/test/fixtures/6.Dockerfile b/test/fixtures/6.Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da55d14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/6.Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# escape = `
+RUN cmd a `
+ && cmd b
diff --git a/test/fixtures/7.Dockerfile b/test/fixtures/7.Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cdbfb55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/7.Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+FROM debian:buster
+RUN cmd a \
+ && cmd b
diff --git a/test/fixtures/8.Dockerfile b/test/fixtures/8.Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e4de4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/8.Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+FROM debian:buster
+# escape = `
+RUN cmd a \
+ && cmd b