diff --git a/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c b/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c
index 3a23f0bb16..b0abe9ec10 100644
--- a/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/nodes/outfuncs.c
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 #include "utils/datum.h"
 #include "utils/rel.h"
 
+static void outChar(StringInfo str, char c);
+
 
 /*
  * Macros to simplify output of different kinds of fields.  Use these
@@ -62,7 +64,8 @@
 
 /* Write a char field (ie, one ascii character) */
 #define WRITE_CHAR_FIELD(fldname) \
-	appendStringInfo(str, " :" CppAsString(fldname) " %c", node->fldname)
+	(appendStringInfo(str, " :" CppAsString(fldname) " "), \
+	 outChar(str, node->fldname))
 
 /* Write an enumerated-type field as an integer code */
 #define WRITE_ENUM_FIELD(fldname, enumtype) \
@@ -140,6 +143,21 @@ outToken(StringInfo str, const char *s)
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Convert one char.  Goes through outToken() so that special characters are
+ * escaped.
+ */
+static void
+outChar(StringInfo str, char c)
+{
+	char		in[2];
+
+	in[0] = c;
+	in[1] = '\0';
+
+	outToken(str, in);
+}
+
 static void
 _outList(StringInfo str, const List *node)
 {
diff --git a/src/backend/nodes/readfuncs.c b/src/backend/nodes/readfuncs.c
index 2988e8bd16..1380703cbc 100644
--- a/src/backend/nodes/readfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/nodes/readfuncs.c
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@
 #define READ_CHAR_FIELD(fldname) \
 	token = pg_strtok(&length);		/* skip :fldname */ \
 	token = pg_strtok(&length);		/* get field value */ \
-	local_node->fldname = token[0]
+	/* avoid overhead of calling debackslash() for one char */ \
+	local_node->fldname = (length == 0) ? '\0' : (token[0] == '\\' ? token[1] : token[0])
 
 /* Read an enumerated-type field that was written as an integer code */
 #define READ_ENUM_FIELD(fldname, enumtype) \