diff --git a/R/spec-meta-bind.R b/R/spec-meta-bind.R
index e32ec1373..1cfe2a346 100644
--- a/R/spec-meta-bind.R
+++ b/R/spec-meta-bind.R
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ spec_meta_bind <- list(
       res <- NULL
     }
   },
-  bind_character_escape = function(ctx, con) {
+  bind_character_escape = if (getRversion() >= "4.0") function(ctx, con) {
     placeholder_funs <- get_placeholder_funs(ctx)
     is_null_check <- ctx$tweaks$is_null_check
     for (placeholder_fun in placeholder_funs) {
diff --git a/tests/testthat/helper-dev.R b/tests/testthat/helper-dev.R
index 1008446ae..6ff09908e 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/helper-dev.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/helper-dev.R
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ inline_meta_tests <- function() {
 
   text <- trimws(format(cs$code), "right")
   text[[1]] <- paste0("spec_meta_bind <- ", text[[1]])
+  # Hack
+  text <- gsub(
+    "bind_character_escape = ",
+    'bind_character_escape = if (getRversion() >= "4.0") ',
+    text
+  )
   text <- c(
     "# Generated by helper-dev.R, do not edit by hand",
     "",