diff --git a/apps/openmw/main.cpp b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
index f54905a2c7..64b74276ed 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/main.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ bool parseOptions (int argc, char** argv, OMW::Engine& engine, Files::Configurat
     desc.add_options()
         ("help", "print help message")
         ("version", "print version information and quit")
-        ("data", bpo::value<Files::PathContainer>()->default_value(Files::PathContainer(), "data")
+        ("data", bpo::value<Files::EscapePathContainer>()->default_value(Files::EscapePathContainer(), "data")
             ->multitoken()->composing(), "set data directories (later directories have higher priority)")
 
             ("data-local", bpo::value<Files::EscapeHashString>()->default_value(""),
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ bool parseOptions (int argc, char** argv, OMW::Engine& engine, Files::Configurat
     // directory settings
     engine.enableFSStrict(variables["fs-strict"].as<bool>());
 
-    Files::PathContainer dataDirs(variables["data"].as<Files::PathContainer>());
+    Files::PathContainer dataDirs(variables["data"].as<Files::EscapePathContainer>().mContainer);
 
     std::string local(variables["data-local"].as<Files::EscapeHashString>().toStdString());
     if (!local.empty())
diff --git a/components/fallback/validate.hpp b/components/fallback/validate.hpp
index d82ef5770e..4f0933e6e9 100644
--- a/components/fallback/validate.hpp
+++ b/components/fallback/validate.hpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <boost/program_options.hpp>
 
 #include <components/files/configurationmanager.hpp>
+#include <components/files/multidircollection.hpp>
 
 // Parses and validates a fallback map from boost program_options.
 // Note: for boost to pick up the validate function, you need to pull in the namespace e.g.
@@ -66,6 +67,23 @@ namespace Files {
         for (std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator it = tokens.begin(); it != tokens.end(); ++it)
             eSV->mVector.push_back(EscapeHashString(*it));
     }
+
+    struct EscapePathContainer {
+        PathContainer mContainer;
+    };
+
+    std::istream & operator>> (std::istream & istream, EscapePathContainer & escapePathContainer)
+    {
+        std::cout << "The new dodgy operator>> is being used" << std::endl;
+
+        boost::iostreams::filtering_istream filteredStream;
+        filteredStream.push(unescape_hash_filter());
+        filteredStream.push(istream);
+
+        filteredStream >> escapePathContainer.mContainer;
+
+        return istream;
+    }
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/components/files/configurationmanager.cpp b/components/files/configurationmanager.cpp
index 3a7f579496..bbac627318 100644
--- a/components/files/configurationmanager.cpp
+++ b/components/files/configurationmanager.cpp
@@ -237,6 +237,30 @@ int escape_hash_filter::get(Source & src)
     return retval;
 }
 
+template <typename Source>
+int unescape_hash_filter::get(Source & src)
+{
+    int character = boost::iostreams::get(src);
+    if (character == escape_hash_filter::sEscape)
+    {
+        int nextChar = boost::iostreams::get(src);
+        switch (nextChar)
+        {
+        case escape_hash_filter::sEscapeIdentifier:
+            return escape_hash_filter::sEscape;
+            break;
+        case escape_hash_filter::sHashIdentifier:
+            return '#';
+            break;
+        default:
+            return '?';
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    else
+        return character;
+}
+
 std::string EscapeHashString::processString(const std::string & str)
 {
     std::string temp = boost::replace_all_copy<std::string>(str, std::string() + (char)escape_hash_filter::sEscape + (char)escape_hash_filter::sHashIdentifier, "#");
diff --git a/components/files/configurationmanager.hpp b/components/files/configurationmanager.hpp
index 3ce995983a..d31ac1ecd3 100644
--- a/components/files/configurationmanager.hpp
+++ b/components/files/configurationmanager.hpp
@@ -88,6 +88,11 @@ struct escape_hash_filter : public boost::iostreams::input_filter
         bool mFinishLine;
 };
 
+struct unescape_hash_filter : public boost::iostreams::input_filter
+{
+    template <typename Source> int get(Source & src);
+};
+
 /**
  * \class EscapeHashString
  */