diff --git a/markdown_it/rules_inline/escape.py b/markdown_it/rules_inline/escape.py
index 0fca6c84..f2e2dd51 100644
--- a/markdown_it/rules_inline/escape.py
+++ b/markdown_it/rules_inline/escape.py
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@ def escape(state: StateInline, silent: bool) -> bool:
         state.pos = pos
         return True
 
+    # '\' before a space is a literal backslash. Don't consume the space, so a
+    # trailing two-space hard line break is still detected by the newline rule.
+    if ch1 == " ":
+        if not silent:
+            token = state.push("text_special", "", 0)
+            token.content = "\\"
+            token.markup = "\\"
+            token.info = "escape"
+        state.pos = pos
+        return True
+
     escapedStr = state.src[pos]
 
     if ch1_ord >= 0xD800 and ch1_ord <= 0xDBFF and pos + 1 < maximum:
diff --git a/tests/test_port/test_misc.py b/tests/test_port/test_misc.py
index 62b5bf85..550359bd 100644
--- a/tests/test_port/test_misc.py
+++ b/tests/test_port/test_misc.py
@@ -42,3 +42,11 @@ def type_filter(tokens, type_):
     assert tokens[2].markup == "."
     assert tokens[3].info == "199"
     assert tokens[3].markup == "."
+
+
+def test_backslash_before_two_space_hardbreak():
+    # A literal backslash directly before a two-space hard line break must not
+    # consume a space, otherwise only one space is left and the newline rule
+    # produces a soft break instead of a hard break.
+    md = MarkdownIt("commonmark")
+    assert md.render("foo\\  \nbar") == "<p>foo\\<br />\nbar</p>\n"