diff --git a/cmd/tools/vdoc/html.v b/cmd/tools/vdoc/html.v
index 07099ca9ac..e253898875 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/vdoc/html.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/vdoc/html.v
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import os
 import net.urllib
 import strings
 import markdown
+import regex
 import v.scanner
 import v.ast
 import v.token
@@ -493,7 +494,12 @@ fn doc_node_html(dn doc.DocNode, link string, head bool, include_examples bool,
 }
 
 fn html_tag_escape(str string) string {
-	return str.replace_each(['<', '&lt;', '>', '&gt;'])
+	excaped_string := str.replace_each(['<', '&lt;', '>', '&gt;'])
+	mut re := regex.regex_opt(r'`.+[(&lt;)(&gt;)].+`') or { regex.RE{} }
+	if re.find_all_str(excaped_string).len > 0 {
+		return str
+	}
+	return excaped_string
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/cmd/tools/vdoc/html_tag_escape_test.v b/cmd/tools/vdoc/html_tag_escape_test.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..64a7d1c9c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/tools/vdoc/html_tag_escape_test.v
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+module main
+
+fn test_html_tag_escape() {
+	assert html_tag_escape('<abc>') == '&lt;abc&gt;'
+	assert html_tag_escape('`<abc>`') == '`<abc>`'
+}