diff --git a/uPortal-webapp/src/main/webapp/media/skins/common/javascript/uportal/up-util.js b/uPortal-webapp/src/main/webapp/media/skins/common/javascript/uportal/up-util.js
index 873537e82d..02260efd3f 100644
--- a/uPortal-webapp/src/main/webapp/media/skins/common/javascript/uportal/up-util.js
+++ b/uPortal-webapp/src/main/webapp/media/skins/common/javascript/uportal/up-util.js
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ var up = up || {};
      * @param str {String} String to be cleaned
      */
     up.escapeSpecialChars = function (string_) {
-        var specials = new RegExp('[.*+?|()\\[\\]{}\\\\]', 'g'); // .*+?|()[]{}\
-        return string_.replaceAll(specials, '\\$&');
+        var specials = new RegExp(String.raw`[.*+?|()\[\]{}\\]`, 'g'); // .*+?|()[]{}\
+        return string_.replaceAll(specials, String.raw`\$&`);
     };
 
     /**
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ var up = up || {};
         var s = message;
 
         for (var index = 0; index < arguments_.length; index++) {
-            var reg = new RegExp('\\{' + index + '\\}', 'gm');
+            var reg = new RegExp(String.raw`\{` + index + String.raw`\}`, 'gm');
             s = s.replace(reg, arguments_[index]);
         }
         return s;