diff --git a/bashcols b/bashcols
index 10af23d..324f2c4 100755
--- a/bashcols
+++ b/bashcols
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # vim: syntax=bash:
 
-eval "reset_esc=\"\\e[0m\""
+reset_esc='\e[0m'
 
 # applies the given color id, executes the command, then resets the color
 function colout() {
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ function dispcollist() {
 function colthis {
 	local name="$1"
 	shift
-	eval "printf \"\${${name}_esc}$@$reset_esc\""
+	eval "printf \"%s\" \"\${${name}_esc}$@$reset_esc\""
 }
 
 # default colors