diff --git a/bin/brew b/bin/brew
index 92cd02876a..715daa61a4 100755
--- a/bin/brew
+++ b/bin/brew
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ begin
       if ARGV.first =~ /^\/(.*)\/$/
         puts_columns formulae.grep(Regexp.new($1))
       else
-        puts_columns formulae.grep(/.*#{ARGV.first}.*/)
+        search_term = Regexp.escape(ARGV.first)
+        puts_columns formulae.grep(/.*#{search_term}.*/)
       end
 
     when 'edit'