diff --git a/resources/classes/auto_loader.php b/resources/classes/auto_loader.php
index c056cc6d6a..b07693df66 100644
--- a/resources/classes/auto_loader.php
+++ b/resources/classes/auto_loader.php
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class auto_loader {
 	private function loader($class_name): bool {
 
 		//sanitize the class name
-		$class_name = preg_replace('/[^a-zA-Z0-9_]/', '', $class_name);
+		$class_name = preg_replace('/[^a-zA-Z0-9_\\\\]/', '', $class_name);
 
 		//find the path using the class_name as the key in the classes array
 		if (isset($this->classes[$class_name])) {