diff --git a/modules/programs/readline.nix b/modules/programs/readline.nix
index a7ff5f594..2f79df6e1 100644
--- a/modules/programs/readline.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/readline.nix
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ in {
     bindings = mkOption {
       default = { };
       type = types.attrsOf types.str;
-      example = { "\\C-h" = "backward-kill-word"; };
+      example = literalExample ''
+        { "\\C-h" = "backward-kill-word"; }
+      '';
       description = "Readline bindings.";
     };
 
diff --git a/tests/modules/programs/readline/using-all-options.nix b/tests/modules/programs/readline/using-all-options.nix
index 104d08b8a..ab851020c 100644
--- a/tests/modules/programs/readline/using-all-options.nix
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/readline/using-all-options.nix
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ with lib;
     programs.readline = {
       enable = true;
 
-      bindings = { "C-h" = "backward-kill-word"; };
+      bindings = { "\\C-h" = "backward-kill-word"; };
 
       variables = {
         bell-style = "audible";
diff --git a/tests/modules/programs/readline/using-all-options.txt b/tests/modules/programs/readline/using-all-options.txt
index da9f7df68..6b4aef51e 100644
--- a/tests/modules/programs/readline/using-all-options.txt
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/readline/using-all-options.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ $include /etc/inputrc
 set bell-style audible
 set completion-map-case on
 set completion-prefix-display-length 2
-"C-h": backward-kill-word
+"\C-h": backward-kill-word
 $if mode=emacs
 "\e[1~": beginning-of-line
 $endif