diff --git a/runbot/common.py b/runbot/common.py
index 82ea8926..df088500 100644
--- a/runbot/common.py
+++ b/runbot/common.py
@@ -133,6 +133,27 @@ def list_local_dbs(additionnal_conditions=None):
         """ % additionnal_condition_str)
         return [d[0] for d in local_cr.fetchall()]
 
+def markdown_escape(text):
+    patterns = {
+        r'\*\*(.+?)\*\*': '\\*\\*\\g<1>\\*\\*',
+        r'~~(.+?)~~': '\\~\\~\\g<1>\\~\\~',
+        r'__(.+?)__': '\\_\\_\\g<1>\\_\\_',
+    }
+
+    for p, b in patterns.items():
+        text = re.sub(p, b, text, flags=re.DOTALL)
+    return text
+
+def markdown_unescape(text):
+    patterns = {
+        r'\\\*\\\*': '**',
+        r'\\\~\\\~': '~~',
+        r'\\\_\\\_': '__',
+    }
+
+    for p, b in patterns.items():
+        text = re.sub(p, b, text, flags=re.DOTALL)
+    return text
 
 def pseudo_markdown(text):
     text = html_escape(text)
@@ -166,7 +187,7 @@ def pseudo_markdown(text):
         return f'<code>{codes[int(match.group(1))]}</code>'
 
     text = Markup(re.sub(r'<code>(\d+)</code>', code_replace, text, flags=re.DOTALL))
-    return text
+    return markdown_unescape(text)
 
 
 def _make_github_session(token):
diff --git a/runbot/models/build_config_codeowner.py b/runbot/models/build_config_codeowner.py
index 79da1cff..a79f1ed7 100644
--- a/runbot/models/build_config_codeowner.py
+++ b/runbot/models/build_config_codeowner.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import re
 from odoo import models, fields
-
+from odoo.addons.runbot.common import markdown_escape
 
 class ConfigStep(models.Model):
     _inherit = 'runbot.build.config.step'
@@ -124,10 +124,10 @@ class ConfigStep(models.Model):
             for file, file_reviewers in reviewer_per_file.items():
                 href = 'https://%s/blob/%s/%s' % (commit_link.branch_id.remote_id.base_url, commit_link.commit_id.name, file.split('/', 1)[-1])
                 if file_reviewers:
-                    build._log('', 'Adding %s to reviewers for file [%s](%s)' % (', '.join(sorted(file_reviewers)), file, href), log_type='markdown')
+                    build._log('', 'Adding %s to reviewers for file [%s](%s)' % (', '.join(sorted(file_reviewers)), markdown_escape(file), href), log_type='markdown')
                     reviewers |= file_reviewers
                 else:
-                    build._log('', 'No reviewer for file [%s](%s)' % (file, href), log_type='markdown')
+                    build._log('', 'No reviewer for file [%s](%s)' % (markdown_escape(file), href), log_type='markdown')
 
             if reviewers:
                 pr = pr_by_commit[commit_link]
diff --git a/runbot/tests/test_event.py b/runbot/tests/test_event.py
index a969741b..5761f705 100644
--- a/runbot/tests/test_event.py
+++ b/runbot/tests/test_event.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from .common import RunbotCase
-
+from odoo.addons.runbot.common import markdown_escape
 
 class TestIrLogging(RunbotCase):
 
@@ -60,6 +60,19 @@ class TestIrLogging(RunbotCase):
             'This <a href="https://wwww.somewhere.com">link</a> goes to somewhere and <a href="http://www.nowhere.com">this one</a> to nowhere.'
         )
 
+        # test links with markdown like symbols
+        log.message = f'Adding validation to reviewers for file [{markdown_escape("foo/__init__.py")}](https://www.nowhere.com/)'
+        self.assertEqual(
+            log._markdown(),
+            'Adding validation to reviewers for file <a href="https://www.nowhere.com/">foo/__init__.py</a>'
+        )
+
+        log.message = f'~~{markdown_escape("foo/__init__.py")}~~'
+        self.assertEqual(
+            log._markdown(),
+            '<del>foo/__init__.py</del>'
+        )
+
         # test link with icon
         log.message = '[@icon-download](https://wwww.somewhere.com) goes to somewhere.'
         self.assertEqual(