diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index cac6f5824..bf12b122f 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -1639,7 +1639,7 @@ fn search_selection(cx: &mut Context) {
     let query = doc.selection(view.id).primary().fragment(contents);
     let regex = regex::escape(&query);
     cx.editor.registers.get_mut('/').push(regex);
-    let msg = format!("register '{}' set to '{}'", '\\', query);
+    let msg = format!("register '{}' set to '{}'", '/', query);
     cx.editor.set_status(msg);
 }