diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Formatter/OutputFormatter.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Formatter/OutputFormatter.php
index 3bec5f557e..e509ade565 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Formatter/OutputFormatter.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Formatter/OutputFormatter.php
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class OutputFormatter implements OutputFormatterInterface
     /**
      * The pattern to phrase the format.
      */
-    const FORMAT_PATTERN = '#(\\\\?)<(/?)([a-z][a-z0-9_=;-]+)?>([^\\\\<]*)#is';
+    const FORMAT_PATTERN = '#(\\\\?)<(/?)([a-z][a-z0-9_=;-]+)?>((?:(?!\\\\?<).)*)#is';
 
     private $decorated;
     private $styles = array();