diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/explorerViewer.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/explorerViewer.ts
index 24758a21ce8..e80253e0029 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/explorerViewer.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/explorerViewer.ts
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ export class FileRenderer extends ActionsRenderer implements IRenderer {
 	}
 
 	private cssEscape(val: string): string {
-		return val.replace(/ /g, '\\ '); // make sure to not introduce CSS classes from files that contain whitespace
+		return val.replace(/\s/g, '\\$&'); // make sure to not introduce CSS classes from files that contain whitespace
 	}
 }