diff --git a/inline.go b/inline.go
index 40dc7e0..b3ec847 100644
--- a/inline.go
+++ b/inline.go
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ func lineBreak(p *parser, out *bytes.Buffer, data []byte, offset int) int {
 
 	precededByTwoSpaces := offset >= 2 && data[offset-2] == ' ' && data[offset-1] == ' '
 	precededByBackslash := offset >= 1 && data[offset-1] == '\\' // see http://spec.commonmark.org/0.18/#example-527
+	precededByBackslash = precededByBackslash && p.flags&EXTENSION_BACKSLASH_LINE_BREAK != 0
 
 	// should there be a hard line break here?
 	if p.flags&EXTENSION_HARD_LINE_BREAK == 0 && !precededByTwoSpaces && !precededByBackslash {