diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 882898686f..01602b8860 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -475,8 +475,17 @@ file(GLOB_RECURSE LEAN_SOURCES
   "${LEAN_SOURCE_DIR}"
   "${LEAN_SOURCE_DIR}/[A-Za-z]*.cpp"
   "${LEAN_SOURCE_DIR}/[A-Za-z]*.h")
+
+function(escape_regex OUT_NAME INPUT)
+    foreach(CHAR IN ITEMS ^ $ . [ ] - + * \( \) )
+        string(REPLACE "${CHAR}" "\\${CHAR}" INPUT ${INPUT})
+    endforeach(CHAR)
+    set(${OUT_NAME} ${INPUT} PARENT_SCOPE)
+endfunction()
+escape_regex(LEAN_SOURCE_DIR_REGEX_SAFE ${LEAN_SOURCE_DIR})
+
 foreach(SOURCE ${LEAN_SOURCES})
-  if(${SOURCE} MATCHES "${LEAN_SOURCE_DIR}/boot/.*")
+  if(${SOURCE} MATCHES "${LEAN_SOURCE_DIR_REGEX_SAFE}/boot/.*")
     LIST(REMOVE_ITEM LEAN_SOURCES ${SOURCE})
   endif()
 endforeach()