diff --git a/console-tools/clear.c b/console-tools/clear.c
index 3cc1625..09ef1ea 100644
--- a/console-tools/clear.c
+++ b/console-tools/clear.c
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@
 
 #include "libbb.h"
 
+#define ESC "\033"
+
 int clear_main(int argc, char **argv) MAIN_EXTERNALLY_VISIBLE;
 int clear_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv UNUSED_PARAM)
 {
 	/* home; clear to the end of screen */
-	return full_write1_str("\033[H""\033[J") != 6;
+	return full_write1_str(ESC"[H" ESC"[J") != 6;
 }