diff --git a/assert.sh b/assert.sh
index f3d03d8..013c7d5 100644
--- a/assert.sh
+++ b/assert.sh
@@ -90,9 +90,8 @@ assert() {
     # assert <command> <expected stdout> [stdin]
     (( tests_ran++ ))
     [[ -n "$DISCOVERONLY" ]] && return
-    # printf required for formatting
-    printf -v expected "x${2:-}" # x required to overwrite older results
-    result="$(eval 2>/dev/null $1 <<< ${3:-})"
+    expected=$(echo -e "x${2:-}") # x required to overwrite older results
+    result=$(echo -e "$(eval 2>/dev/null "$1" <<< ${3:-})")
     # Note: $expected is already decorated
     if [[ "x$result" == "$expected" ]]; then
         [[ -n "$DEBUG" ]] && echo -n .
diff --git a/tests.sh b/tests.sh
index 27793f0..370ff90 100755
--- a/tests.sh
+++ b/tests.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ assert "seq 2" "1\n2"                   # multi-line output expected
 assert_raises 'read a; exit $a' 42 "42" # variables still work
 assert "echo 1;
 echo 2      # ^" "1\n2"                 # semicolon required!
+assert 'echo " * "' " * "               # don't let the shell evaluate arguments
+assert "echo '%s --'" "%s --"           # don't escape user content
+assert "echo \"foo\nbar\"" "foo\nbar"   # interpretation of backslash escape
 assert_end demo
 
 _clean() {