diff --git a/lib/acts_as_taggable_on/taggable/tagged_with_query/query_base.rb b/lib/acts_as_taggable_on/taggable/tagged_with_query/query_base.rb
index 011ae51e8..4408c6772 100644
--- a/lib/acts_as_taggable_on/taggable/tagged_with_query/query_base.rb
+++ b/lib/acts_as_taggable_on/taggable/tagged_with_query/query_base.rb
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def tags_match_type
 
     def escaped_tag(tag)
       tag = tag.downcase unless ActsAsTaggableOn.strict_case_match
-      tag.gsub(/[!%_]/) { |x| '!' + x }
+      ActsAsTaggableOn::Utils.escape_like(tag)
     end
 
     def adjust_taggings_alias(taggings_alias)
diff --git a/lib/acts_as_taggable_on/utils.rb b/lib/acts_as_taggable_on/utils.rb
index 38d68eb06..df423cb74 100644
--- a/lib/acts_as_taggable_on/utils.rb
+++ b/lib/acts_as_taggable_on/utils.rb
@@ -30,7 +30,11 @@ def like_operator
 
       # escape _ and % characters in strings, since these are wildcards in SQL.
       def escape_like(str)
-        str.gsub(/[!%_]/) { |x| '!' + x }
+        str.gsub(/[!%_]/) { |x| escape_replacement + x }
+      end
+
+      def escape_replacement
+        using_postgresql? ? '\\' : '!'
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/acts_as_taggable_on/utils_spec.rb b/spec/acts_as_taggable_on/utils_spec.rb
index fa23f897e..ecd95b03c 100644
--- a/spec/acts_as_taggable_on/utils_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acts_as_taggable_on/utils_spec.rb
@@ -20,4 +20,16 @@
       expect(ActsAsTaggableOn::Utils.sha_prefix('puppies')).not_to eq(ActsAsTaggableOn::Utils.sha_prefix('kittens'))
     end
   end
+
+  describe '#escape_replacement' do
+    it 'should return ! when the adapter is not PostgreSQL' do
+      allow(ActsAsTaggableOn::Utils.connection).to receive(:adapter_name) { 'MySQL' }
+      expect(ActsAsTaggableOn::Utils.escape_replacement).to eq('!')
+    end
+
+    it 'should return \\ when the adapter is PostgreSQL' do
+      allow(ActsAsTaggableOn::Utils.connection).to receive(:adapter_name) { 'PostgreSQL' }
+      expect(ActsAsTaggableOn::Utils.escape_replacement).to eq('\\')
+    end
+  end
 end