diff --git a/src/lint/renderer/ArcanistCheckstyleXMLLintRenderer.php b/src/lint/renderer/ArcanistCheckstyleXMLLintRenderer.php
--- a/src/lint/renderer/ArcanistCheckstyleXMLLintRenderer.php
+++ b/src/lint/renderer/ArcanistCheckstyleXMLLintRenderer.php
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
       $this->writer->writeAttribute('column', $message->getChar());
       $this->writer->writeAttribute('severity',
         $this->getStringForSeverity($message->getSeverity()));
-      $this->writer->writeAttribute('message', $message->getDescription());
+      $this->writer->writeAttribute('message', str_replace('`', '\\`', $message->getDescription()));
       $this->writer->writeAttribute('source', $message->getCode());
 
       $this->writer->endElement();