diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/rtf/rtfml.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/rtf/rtfml.py
index f3febb1743..60f69e2e17 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/rtf/rtfml.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/rtf/rtfml.py
@@ -68,8 +68,13 @@ TODO:
 '''
 
 def txt2rtf(text):
+    # Escape { and } in the text.
+    text = text.replace('{', r'\'7b')
+    text = text.replace('}', r'\'7d')
+
     if not isinstance(text, unicode):
         return text
+
     buf = cStringIO.StringIO()
     for x in text:
         val = ord(x)