diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/automake.sw.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/automake.sw.approved.txt
index 8c7b9c57..6de24789 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/automake.sw.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/automake.sw.approved.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ Nor would this
 :test-result: FAIL #1514: stderr/stdout is not captured in tests aborted by an exception
 :test-result: PASS #1548
 :test-result: PASS #1905 -- test spec parser properly clears internal state between compound tests
+:test-result: PASS #1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
 :test-result: XFAIL #748 - captures with unexpected exceptions
 :test-result: PASS #809
 :test-result: PASS #833
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/compact.sw.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/compact.sw.approved.txt
index 914b4fb2..2a11bf78 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/compact.sw.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/compact.sw.approved.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ Compilation.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: std::is_same<TypeList<int>, TypeLis
 CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("spec . char")) for: true
 CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("spec , char")) for: true
 CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: !(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \, char)"))) for: !false
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec {a} char)")) for: true
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec [a] char)")) for: true
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: !(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("differs but has similar tag", "[a]"))) for: !false
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \ char)")) for: true
 Exception.tests.cpp:<line number>: failed: unexpected exception with message: 'answer := 42' with 1 message: 'expected exception'
 Exception.tests.cpp:<line number>: failed: unexpected exception with message: 'answer := 42'; expression was: thisThrows() with 1 message: 'expected exception'
 Exception.tests.cpp:<line number>: passed: thisThrows() with 1 message: 'answer := 42'
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.std.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.std.approved.txt
index 4a51f82f..a0823854 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.std.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.std.approved.txt
@@ -1380,6 +1380,6 @@ due to unexpected exception with message:
   Why would you throw a std::string?
 
 ===============================================================================
-test cases:  333 |  259 passed |  70 failed |  4 failed as expected
-assertions: 1876 | 1724 passed | 131 failed | 21 failed as expected
+test cases:  334 |  260 passed |  70 failed |  4 failed as expected
+assertions: 1880 | 1728 passed | 131 failed | 21 failed as expected
 
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.sw.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.sw.approved.txt
index bb3c502e..0c022ebb 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.sw.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.sw.approved.txt
@@ -218,6 +218,40 @@ CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
 with expansion:
   !false
 
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
+  Various parentheses
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>
+...............................................................................
+
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
+  REQUIRE( spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec {a} char)")) )
+with expansion:
+  true
+
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
+  REQUIRE( spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec [a] char)")) )
+with expansion:
+  true
+
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
+  REQUIRE_FALSE( spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("differs but has similar tag", "[a]")) )
+with expansion:
+  !false
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
+  backslash in test name
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>
+...............................................................................
+
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
+  REQUIRE( spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \ char)")) )
+with expansion:
+  true
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #748 - captures with unexpected exceptions
   outside assertions
@@ -14679,6 +14713,6 @@ Misc.tests.cpp:<line number>
 Misc.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
 
 ===============================================================================
-test cases:  333 |  243 passed |  86 failed |  4 failed as expected
-assertions: 1893 | 1724 passed | 148 failed | 21 failed as expected
+test cases:  334 |  244 passed |  86 failed |  4 failed as expected
+assertions: 1897 | 1728 passed | 148 failed | 21 failed as expected
 
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.swa4.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.swa4.approved.txt
index d35e1d7b..cf37da74 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.swa4.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/console.swa4.approved.txt
@@ -218,6 +218,40 @@ CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
 with expansion:
   !false
 
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
+  Various parentheses
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>
+...............................................................................
+
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
+  REQUIRE( spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec {a} char)")) )
+with expansion:
+  true
+
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
+  REQUIRE( spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec [a] char)")) )
+with expansion:
+  true
+
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
+  REQUIRE_FALSE( spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("differs but has similar tag", "[a]")) )
+with expansion:
+  !false
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
+  backslash in test name
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>
+...............................................................................
+
+CmdLine.tests.cpp:<line number>: PASSED:
+  REQUIRE( spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \ char)")) )
+with expansion:
+  true
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #748 - captures with unexpected exceptions
   outside assertions
@@ -398,6 +432,6 @@ Condition.tests.cpp:<line number>: FAILED:
   CHECK( true != true )
 
 ===============================================================================
-test cases: 21 | 16 passed | 3 failed | 2 failed as expected
-assertions: 46 | 39 passed | 4 failed | 3 failed as expected
+test cases: 22 | 17 passed | 3 failed | 2 failed as expected
+assertions: 50 | 43 passed | 4 failed | 3 failed as expected
 
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/junit.sw.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/junit.sw.approved.txt
index be4d8dde..ca65203f 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/junit.sw.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/junit.sw.approved.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <testsuitesloose text artifact
 >
-  <testsuite name="<exe-name>" errors="17" failures="132" tests="1894" hostname="tbd" time="{duration}" timestamp="{iso8601-timestamp}">
+  <testsuite name="<exe-name>" errors="17" failures="132" tests="1898" hostname="tbd" time="{duration}" timestamp="{iso8601-timestamp}">
     <properties>
       <property name="filters" value="~[!nonportable]~[!benchmark]~[approvals] *"/>
       <property name="random-seed" value="1"/>
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ Nor would this
     </testcase>
     <testcase classname="<exe-name>.global" name="#1548" time="{duration}"/>
     <testcase classname="<exe-name>.global" name="#1905 -- test spec parser properly clears internal state between compound tests" time="{duration}"/>
+    <testcase classname="<exe-name>.global" name="#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping/Various parentheses" time="{duration}"/>
+    <testcase classname="<exe-name>.global" name="#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping/backslash in test name" time="{duration}"/>
     <testcase classname="<exe-name>.global" name="#748 - captures with unexpected exceptions/outside assertions" time="{duration}">
       <error type="TEST_CASE">
 FAILED:
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/sonarqube.sw.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/sonarqube.sw.approved.txt
index 80778cef..60357eb5 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/sonarqube.sw.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/sonarqube.sw.approved.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 >
   <file path="tests/<exe-name>/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp">
     <testCase name="#1905 -- test spec parser properly clears internal state between compound tests" duration="{duration}"/>
+    <testCase name="#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping/Various parentheses" duration="{duration}"/>
+    <testCase name="#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping/backslash in test name" duration="{duration}"/>
     <testCase name="Parse test names and tags/Empty test spec should have no filters" duration="{duration}"/>
     <testCase name="Parse test names and tags/Test spec from empty string should have no filters" duration="{duration}"/>
     <testCase name="Parse test names and tags/Test spec from just a comma should have no filters" duration="{duration}"/>
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/tap.sw.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/tap.sw.approved.txt
index e7d76afd..a97aeb77 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/tap.sw.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/tap.sw.approved.txt
@@ -52,6 +52,14 @@ ok {test-number} - spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("spec . char")) for: true
 ok {test-number} - spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("spec , char")) for: true
 # #1905 -- test spec parser properly clears internal state between compound tests
 ok {test-number} - !(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \, char)"))) for: !false
+# #1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
+ok {test-number} - spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec {a} char)")) for: true
+# #1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
+ok {test-number} - spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec [a] char)")) for: true
+# #1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
+ok {test-number} - !(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("differs but has similar tag", "[a]"))) for: !false
+# #1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping
+ok {test-number} - spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \ char)")) for: true
 # #748 - captures with unexpected exceptions
 not ok {test-number} - unexpected exception with message: 'answer := 42' with 1 message: 'expected exception'
 # #748 - captures with unexpected exceptions
@@ -3778,5 +3786,5 @@ ok {test-number} - q3 == 23. for: 23.0 == 23.0
 ok {test-number} -
 # xmlentitycheck
 ok {test-number} -
-1..1885
+1..1889
 
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/teamcity.sw.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/teamcity.sw.approved.txt
index 24dcd83b..116c80f9 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/teamcity.sw.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/teamcity.sw.approved.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ Tricky.tests.cpp:<line number>|nexplicit failure with message:|n  "1514"']
 ##teamcity[testFinished name='#1548' duration="{duration}"]
 ##teamcity[testStarted name='#1905 -- test spec parser properly clears internal state between compound tests']
 ##teamcity[testFinished name='#1905 -- test spec parser properly clears internal state between compound tests' duration="{duration}"]
+##teamcity[testStarted name='#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping']
+##teamcity[testFinished name='#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping' duration="{duration}"]
 ##teamcity[testStarted name='#748 - captures with unexpected exceptions']
 Exception.tests.cpp:<line number>|nunexpected exception with messages:|n  "answer := 42"|n  "expected exception"- failure ignore as test marked as |'ok to fail|'|n']
 Exception.tests.cpp:<line number>|nunexpected exception with messages:|n  "answer := 42"|n  "expected exception"|n  REQUIRE_NOTHROW( thisThrows() )|nwith expansion:|n  thisThrows()|n- failure ignore as test marked as |'ok to fail|'|n']
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/xml.sw.approved.txt b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/xml.sw.approved.txt
index 6f3b17d2..fbba5620 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/xml.sw.approved.txt
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/Baselines/xml.sw.approved.txt
@@ -229,6 +229,47 @@ Nor would this
       </Expression>
       <OverallResult success="true"/>
     </TestCase>
+    <TestCase name="#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping" tags="[command-line][test-spec]" filename="tests/<exe-name>/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp" >
+      <Section name="Various parentheses" filename="tests/<exe-name>/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp" >
+        <Expression success="true" type="REQUIRE" filename="tests/<exe-name>/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp" >
+          <Original>
+            spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec {a} char)"))
+          </Original>
+          <Expanded>
+            true
+          </Expanded>
+        </Expression>
+        <Expression success="true" type="REQUIRE" filename="tests/<exe-name>/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp" >
+          <Original>
+            spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec [a] char)"))
+          </Original>
+          <Expanded>
+            true
+          </Expanded>
+        </Expression>
+        <Expression success="true" type="REQUIRE_FALSE" filename="tests/<exe-name>/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp" >
+          <Original>
+            !(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("differs but has similar tag", "[a]")))
+          </Original>
+          <Expanded>
+            !false
+          </Expanded>
+        </Expression>
+        <OverallResults successes="3" failures="0" expectedFailures="0"/>
+      </Section>
+      <Section name="backslash in test name" filename="tests/<exe-name>/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp" >
+        <Expression success="true" type="REQUIRE" filename="tests/<exe-name>/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp" >
+          <Original>
+            spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \ char)"))
+          </Original>
+          <Expanded>
+            true
+          </Expanded>
+        </Expression>
+        <OverallResults successes="1" failures="0" expectedFailures="0"/>
+      </Section>
+      <OverallResult success="true"/>
+    </TestCase>
     <TestCase name="#748 - captures with unexpected exceptions" tags="[!shouldfail][!throws][.][failing]" filename="tests/<exe-name>/UsageTests/Exception.tests.cpp" >
       <Section name="outside assertions" filename="tests/<exe-name>/UsageTests/Exception.tests.cpp" >
         <Info>
@@ -17595,7 +17636,7 @@ loose text artifact
       </Section>
       <OverallResult success="true"/>
     </TestCase>
-    <OverallResults successes="1724" failures="149" expectedFailures="21"/>
+    <OverallResults successes="1728" failures="149" expectedFailures="21"/>
   </Group>
-  <OverallResults successes="1724" failures="148" expectedFailures="21"/>
+  <OverallResults successes="1728" failures="148" expectedFailures="21"/>
 </Catch>
diff --git a/tests/SelfTest/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp b/tests/SelfTest/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp
index d78f8ac0..e8bf6e5f 100644
--- a/tests/SelfTest/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/SelfTest/IntrospectiveTests/CmdLine.tests.cpp
@@ -307,6 +307,24 @@ TEST_CASE("#1905 -- test spec parser properly clears internal state between comp
     REQUIRE_FALSE(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \, char)")));
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("#1912 -- test spec parser handles escaping", "[command-line][test-spec]") {
+    using Catch::parseTestSpec;
+    using Catch::TestSpec;
+
+    SECTION("Various parentheses") {
+        TestSpec spec = parseTestSpec(R"(spec {a} char,spec \[a] char)");
+
+        REQUIRE(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec {a} char)")));
+        REQUIRE(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec [a] char)")));
+        REQUIRE_FALSE(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase("differs but has similar tag", "[a]")));
+    }
+    SECTION("backslash in test name") {
+        TestSpec spec = parseTestSpec(R"(spec \\ char)");
+
+        REQUIRE(spec.matches(*fakeTestCase(R"(spec \ char)")));
+    }
+}
+
 TEST_CASE( "Process can be configured on command line", "[config][command-line]" ) {
 
     using namespace Catch::Matchers;