diff --git a/lib/md2man/roff.rb b/lib/md2man/roff.rb
index 953dd97..2c41dc5 100644
--- a/lib/md2man/roff.rb
+++ b/lib/md2man/roff.rb
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def normal_paragraph text
   end
 
   def block_code code, language
-    code = escape_backslashes(code)
+    code = escape_macro escape_backslashes(code)
     block_quote "\n.nf\n#{code.chomp}\n.fi\n"
   end
 
@@ -220,6 +220,10 @@ def entity text
 
 private
 
+  def escape_macro text
+    text.gsub(/^\./, '\\\\&.')
+  end
+
   def escape_backslashes text
     text.gsub(/\\/, '\&\&')
   end