diff --git a/soda/core/soda/common/jinja.py b/soda/core/soda/common/jinja.py
index b98a41205..54a198182 100644
--- a/soda/core/soda/common/jinja.py
+++ b/soda/core/soda/common/jinja.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def resolve_or_missing(self, key):
 
 
 def create_os_environment():
-    environment = SandboxedEnvironment(variable_start_string="${", variable_end_string="}", autoescape=True)
+    environment = SandboxedEnvironment(variable_start_string="${", variable_end_string="}")
     environment.context_class = OsContext
     return environment
 
diff --git a/soda/core/tests/data_source/test_user_defined_metric_checks.py b/soda/core/tests/data_source/test_user_defined_metric_checks.py
index 781ac91ef..b17ac384a 100644
--- a/soda/core/tests/data_source/test_user_defined_metric_checks.py
+++ b/soda/core/tests/data_source/test_user_defined_metric_checks.py
@@ -110,6 +110,33 @@ def test_user_defined_data_source_query_metric_check_with_variable(data_source_f
     assert 1068 < avg_surface < 1069
 
 
+def test_user_defined_data_source_query_metric_check_with_variable_special_chars(
+    data_source_fixture: DataSourceFixture,
+):
+    table_name = data_source_fixture.ensure_test_table(customers_test_table)
+
+    qualified_table_name = data_source_fixture.data_source.qualified_table_name(table_name)
+
+    scan = data_source_fixture.create_test_scan()
+    scan.add_variables({"cst_size": ">= -5"})
+    scan.add_sodacl_yaml_str(
+        f"""
+              checks:
+                - avg_surface between 1068 and 1069:
+                    avg_surface query: |
+                      SELECT AVG(cst_size * distance) as avg_surface
+                      FROM {qualified_table_name} WHERE cst_size ${{cst_size}} OR cst_size IS NULL
+            """
+    )
+    scan.execute()
+
+    scan.assert_all_checks_pass()
+
+    avg_surface = scan._checks[0].check_value
+    assert isinstance(avg_surface, float)
+    assert 1068 < avg_surface < 1069
+
+
 def test_user_defined_data_source_query_metric_with_sql_file(data_source_fixture: DataSourceFixture):
     fd, path = tempfile.mkstemp()
     table_name = data_source_fixture.ensure_test_table(customers_test_table)