diff --git a/C/init.c b/C/init.c
index 679b4167a..c576607f9 100644
--- a/C/init.c
+++ b/C/init.c
@@ -946,7 +946,7 @@ InitFlags(void)
   yap_flags[LANGUAGE_MODE_FLAG] = 0;
   yap_flags[STRICT_ISO_FLAG] = FALSE;
   yap_flags[SOURCE_MODE_FLAG] = FALSE;
-  yap_flags[CHARACTER_ESCAPE_FLAG] = ISO_CHARACTER_ESCAPES;
+  yap_flags[CHARACTER_ESCAPE_FLAG] = SICSTUS_CHARACTER_ESCAPES;
   yap_flags[WRITE_QUOTED_STRING_FLAG] = FALSE;
 #if (defined(YAPOR) || defined(THREADS)) && PUREe_YAPOR
   yap_flags[ALLOW_ASSERTING_STATIC_FLAG] = FALSE;