diff --git a/alot/helper.py b/alot/helper.py
index d5ac9efe7..e40e592f6 100644
--- a/alot/helper.py
+++ b/alot/helper.py
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ def unicode_printable(c):
     private/unassigned character and not a control character other than tab or
     newline.
     """
-    if c in ('\n', '\t'):
+    ESC = '\x1b'
+    if c in ('\n', '\t', ESC):
         return True
     return unicodedata.category(c) not in ('Cc', 'Cn', 'Co')