diff --git a/src/builtins/abbr.cpp b/src/builtins/abbr.cpp
index bb8fc204d..fe44b066a 100644
--- a/src/builtins/abbr.cpp
+++ b/src/builtins/abbr.cpp
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ static int abbr_list(const abbr_options_t &opts, io_streams_t &streams) {
     }
     const auto abbrs = abbrs_get_set();
     for (const auto &abbr : abbrs->list()) {
-        wcstring name = escape_string(abbr.name);
+        wcstring name = abbr.name;
         name.push_back(L'\n');
         streams.out.append(name);
     }
diff --git a/tests/checks/abbr.fish b/tests/checks/abbr.fish
index 1d021e9d0..4cb8ecc59 100644
--- a/tests/checks/abbr.fish
+++ b/tests/checks/abbr.fish
@@ -180,7 +180,13 @@ echo erase $status
 set --show _fish_abbr_cuckoo
 # Nothing
 
+abbr --add '$PAGER' less
 abbr --erase (abbr --list)
+abbr --list
+# Nothing
+abbr --add '$PAGER' less
+abbr --list
+# CHECK: $PAGER
 
 abbr --add bogus --position never stuff
 # CHECKERR: abbr: Invalid position 'never'