diff --git a/doc/tools/make_rst.py b/doc/tools/make_rst.py
index 3b965f0dba6..4cb9de6d58a 100755
--- a/doc/tools/make_rst.py
+++ b/doc/tools/make_rst.py
@@ -1042,6 +1042,7 @@ def rstize_text(text, state):  # type: (str, State) -> str
                 if class_param != state.current_class:
                     repl_text = "{}.{}".format(class_param, method_param)
                 tag_text = ":ref:`{}<class_{}{}_{}>`".format(repl_text, class_param, ref_type, method_param)
+                escape_pre = True
                 escape_post = True
             elif cmd.find("image=") == 0:
                 tag_text = ""  # '![](' + cmd[6:] + ')'