diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-show-news.R b/tests/testthat/test-show-news.R
index a55b7e5a1..704c9fd1a 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-show-news.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-show-news.R
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@ test_that("can read NEWS.Rd in inst directory", {
   pkg <- local_package_create()
 
   dir_create(pkg, "inst")
-  write(r"[\name{NEWS}
-\title{News for Package 'test'}
+  write("\\name{NEWS}
+\\title{News for Package 'test'}
 
-\section{CHANGES IN test VERSION 0.0.1}{
-  \itemize{
-    \item First version
+\\section{CHANGES IN test VERSION 0.0.1}{
+  \\itemize{
+    \\item First version
   }
-}]", path(pkg, "inst", "NEWS.Rd"))
+}", path(pkg, "inst", "NEWS.Rd"))
 
   expect_no_error(show_news(pkg))
 })