diff --git a/lib/haml.js b/lib/haml.js
index a9c554a..7402cdf 100755
--- a/lib/haml.js
+++ b/lib/haml.js
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ var Haml;
           }
           
           // sometimes escaped
-          if ( (line[0] === '=')) {
+          if ( (line.substr(0, 1) === '=')) {
             line = trim(line.substr(1, line.length));
             if(escapeHtmlByDefault){
               return escapedLine();