diff --git a/cmake/templates/_setup_util.py.in b/cmake/templates/_setup_util.py.in
index 0b0d6dda9..e73934bbe 100755
--- a/cmake/templates/_setup_util.py.in
+++ b/cmake/templates/_setup_util.py.in
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
         if not args.local:
             # environment at generation time
-            CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH = '@CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_AS_IS@'.split(';')
+            CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH = r'@CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_AS_IS@'.split(';')
         else:
             # don't consider any other prefix path than this one
             CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH = []