diff --git a/kustomize/internal/commands/edit/set/setimage.go b/kustomize/internal/commands/edit/set/setimage.go
index 4304c4a52..b900c10c1 100644
--- a/kustomize/internal/commands/edit/set/setimage.go
+++ b/kustomize/internal/commands/edit/set/setimage.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ type setImageOptions struct {
 	imageMap map[string]types.Image
 }
 
-var pattern = regexp.MustCompile("^(.*):([a-zA-Z0-9._-]*|\\*)$")
+var pattern = regexp.MustCompile(`^(.*):([a-zA-Z0-9._-]*|\*)$`)
 
 var preserveSeparator = "*"