diff --git a/py/makeqstrdata.py b/py/makeqstrdata.py
index 325207c..c00ec1e 100644
--- a/py/makeqstrdata.py
+++ b/py/makeqstrdata.py
@@ -93,6 +93,12 @@
 
                 # get the qstr value
                 qstr = match.group(1)
+
+                # special case to specify control characters
+                if qstr == '\\n':
+                    qstr = '\n'
+
+                # work out the corresponding qstr name
                 ident = qstr_escape(qstr)
 
                 # don't add duplicates
diff --git a/py/objstr.c b/py/objstr.c
index 0c2d904..d0d090b 100644
--- a/py/objstr.c
+++ b/py/objstr.c
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@
     mp_arg_parse_all(n_args - 1, pos_args + 1, kw_args,
         MP_ARRAY_SIZE(allowed_args), allowed_args, (mp_arg_val_t*)&args);
 
-    mp_obj_t new_args[2] = {pos_args[0], MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR__backslash_n)};
+    mp_obj_t new_args[2] = {pos_args[0], MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR__0x0a_)};
     return str_split_internal(2, new_args, SPLITLINES | (args.keepends.u_bool ? KEEP : 0));
 }
 #endif