diff --git a/Markdown.pl b/Markdown.pl
index 8154247..6336bc8 100755
--- a/Markdown.pl
+++ b/Markdown.pl
@@ -1801,6 +1801,7 @@ sub _RunSpanGamut {
     # Do hard breaks:
     $text =~ s/ {3,}(\n|\z)/<br clear=\"all\"$opt{empty_element_suffix}$1/g;
     $text =~ s/ {2,}\n/<br$opt{empty_element_suffix}\n/g;
+    $text =~ s/ ?\\\n/<br$opt{empty_element_suffix}\n/g;
     $text =~ s/ {2,}\z//g;
 
     return $text;
diff --git a/syntax.md b/syntax.md
index 81bf20f..cab9073 100644
--- a/syntax.md
+++ b/syntax.md
@@ -210,6 +210,11 @@ character in a paragraph into a `<br />` tag.
 When you *do* want to insert a `<br />` break tag using Markdown, you
 end a line with two or more spaces, then type return.
 
+Alternatively, a line ending with a backslash `\` that's at the very end
+of the line (that's not inside a table or code block) will also translate
+into a `<br />` tag (the `\` is replaced).  To keep a literal `\` at the
+end of a line (that's not inside a table or code block), double it.
+
 If you end a line with three or more spaces then a `<br clear="all" />`
 tag will be generated instead of the plain `<br />` tag.