diff --git a/networking/ifupdown.c b/networking/ifupdown.c
index 650cc706f..818048284 100644
--- a/networking/ifupdown.c
+++ b/networking/ifupdown.c
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ static int count_netmask_bits(const char *dotted_quad)
 static char *parse(const char *command, struct interface_defn_t *ifd)
 {
 	size_t old_pos[MAX_OPT_DEPTH] = { 0 };
-	int okay[MAX_OPT_DEPTH] = { 1 };
+	smallint okay[MAX_OPT_DEPTH] = { 1 };
 	int opt_depth = 1;
 	char *result = NULL;
 
@@ -241,13 +241,10 @@ static char *parse(const char *command, struct interface_defn_t *ifd)
 			command++;
 			break;
 		case '\\':
-			if (command[1]) {
-				addstr(&result, command + 1, 1);
-				command += 2;
-			} else {
-				addstr(&result, command, 1);
+			if (command[1])
 				command++;
-			}
+			addstr(&result, command, 1);
+			command++;
 			break;
 		case '[':
 			if (command[1] == '[' && opt_depth < MAX_OPT_DEPTH) {