diff --git a/pmd-xml/pom.xml b/pmd-xml/pom.xml
index 733153d749..4e51df9ec1 100644
--- a/pmd-xml/pom.xml
+++ b/pmd-xml/pom.xml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
                     <delimiters>
                         <delimiter>${*}</delimiter>
                     </delimiters>
+                    <escapeString>\</escapeString>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
         </plugins>
diff --git a/pmd-xml/src/main/resources/category/pom/errorprone.xml b/pmd-xml/src/main/resources/category/pom/errorprone.xml
index cfedde95c5..a882baa52f 100644
--- a/pmd-xml/src/main/resources/category/pom/errorprone.xml
+++ b/pmd-xml/src/main/resources/category/pom/errorprone.xml
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ The following types are considered valid: pom, jar, maven-plugin, ejb, war, ear,
           externalInfoUrl="${pmd.website.baseurl}/pmd_rules_pom_errorprone.html#projectversionasdependencyversion">
         <description>
 Using that expression in dependency declarations seems like a shortcut, but it can go wrong.
-By far the most common problem is the use of &#x24;{project.version} in a BOM or parent POM.
+By far the most common problem is the use of \${project.version} in a BOM or parent POM.
         </description>
         <priority>3</priority>
         <properties>
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ By far the most common problem is the use of &#x24;{project.version} in a BOM or
   ...
   <dependency>
     ...
-    <version>${project.version}</version>
+    <version>\${project.version}</version>
   </dependency>
 </project>
 ]]>