diff --git a/src/runtime/c/pgf/data.h b/src/runtime/c/pgf/data.h
index 5dfd97336..8ad6e34dd 100644
--- a/src/runtime/c/pgf/data.h
+++ b/src/runtime/c/pgf/data.h
@@ -269,6 +269,12 @@ struct PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfLRShift {
     size_t r;
 };
 
+struct PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfLRShiftKS {
+    size_t next_state;
+    ref<PgfSequence> seq;
+    size_t sym_idx;
+};
+
 struct PgfLRReduceArg;
 
 struct PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfLRProduction {
@@ -300,6 +306,7 @@ struct PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfLRReduce {
 
 struct PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfLRState {
     ref<Vector<PgfLRShift>> shifts;
+    ref<Vector<PgfLRShiftKS>> tokens;
     ref<Vector<PgfLRReduce>> reductions;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/c/pgf/parser.cxx b/src/runtime/c/pgf/parser.cxx
index b5850a889..b862f3016 100644
--- a/src/runtime/c/pgf/parser.cxx
+++ b/src/runtime/c/pgf/parser.cxx
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 
 //#define DEBUG_STATE_CREATION
-//#define DEBUG_AUTOMATON
-//#define DEBUG_PARSER
+#define DEBUG_AUTOMATON
+#define DEBUG_PARSER
 //#define DEBUG_GENERATOR
 
 struct PgfLRTableMaker::CCat {
@@ -356,12 +356,39 @@ void *PgfLRTableMaker::Item::operator new(size_t size, Item *item) {
     return new_item;
 }
 
+bool PgfLRTableMaker::CompareKey3::operator() (const Key3& k1, const Key3& k2) const {
+    size_t i = k1.second;
+    size_t j = k2.second;
+    for (;;) {
+        if (i >= k1.first->syms.len || ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(k1.first->syms.data[i]) != PgfSymbolKS::tag)
+            return (j < k2.first->syms.len && ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(k2.first->syms.data[j]) == PgfSymbolKS::tag);
+
+        if (j >= k2.first->syms.len || ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(k2.first->syms.data[j]) != PgfSymbolKS::tag)
+            return false;
+
+        auto symks1 = ref<PgfSymbolKS>::untagged(k1.first->syms.data[i]);
+        auto symks2 = ref<PgfSymbolKS>::untagged(k2.first->syms.data[j]);
+
+        int res[2] = {0,0};
+        texticmp(&symks1->token, &symks2->token, res);
+        if (res[0] < 0)
+            return true;
+        if (res[0] > 0)
+            return false;
+
+        i++; j++;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+
 struct PgfLRTableMaker::State {
     size_t id;
     std::vector<Item*> items;
     std::vector<Item*> completed;
     std::map<Key1,State*,CompareKey1> ccats1;
     std::map<Key2,State*,CompareKey2> ccats2;
+    std::map<Key3,State*,CompareKey3> tokens;
 
     State() {
         this->id = 0;
@@ -651,9 +678,19 @@ void PgfLRTableMaker::symbol(State *state, Fold fold, Item *item, PgfSymbol sym)
         auto symks = ref<PgfSymbolKS>::untagged(sym);
         if (fold == PROBE) {
             item->ccat->productive = true;
+        } else {
+            auto &next_state = state->tokens[Key3(item->seq,item->sym_idx)];
+            if (next_state == NULL) {
+                next_state = new State;
+            }
+            while (item->sym_idx < item->seq->syms.len) {
+                if (ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(item->seq->syms.data[item->sym_idx]) != PgfSymbolKS::tag)
+                    break;
+                item->sym_idx++;
+            }
+            item->stk_size++;
+            next_state->push_item(item);
         }
-        if (item->ref_cnt == 0)
-            delete item;
         break;
     }
     default:
@@ -879,7 +916,7 @@ void PgfLRTableMaker::complete(State *state, Fold fold, Item *item)
     }
 }
 
-void PgfLRTableMaker::transition(PgfConcrLincat *lincat, size_t lin_idx, State *&state)
+void PgfLRTableMaker::internalize_state(State *&state)
 {
     MD5Context ctxt;
     auto begin = state->items.begin();
@@ -912,11 +949,6 @@ void PgfLRTableMaker::transition(PgfConcrLincat *lincat, size_t lin_idx, State *
         delete state;
         state = next_state;
     }
-
-#if defined(DEBUG_AUTOMATON)
-    fprintf(stderr, "%s.%zu: state %ld\n",
-            lincat->name.text, lin_idx, state->id);
-#endif
 }
 
 ref<PgfLRTable> PgfLRTableMaker::make()
@@ -945,10 +977,38 @@ ref<PgfLRTable> PgfLRTableMaker::make()
         }
 
         for (auto &i : state->ccats1) {
-            transition(i.first.first, i.first.second, i.second);
+            internalize_state(i.second);
+#if defined(DEBUG_AUTOMATON)
+            fprintf(stderr, "%s.%zu: state %ld\n",
+                    i.first.first->name.text, i.first.second, i.second->id);
+#endif
         }
         for (auto &i : state->ccats2) {
-            transition(i.first.first->lincat, i.first.second, i.second);
+            internalize_state(i.second);
+#if defined(DEBUG_AUTOMATON)
+            fprintf(stderr, "%s.%zu: state %ld\n",
+                    i.first.first->lincat->name.text, i.first.second, i.second->id);
+#endif
+        }
+        for (auto &i : state->tokens) {
+            internalize_state(i.second);
+#if defined(DEBUG_AUTOMATON)
+            PgfPrinter printer(NULL, 0, NULL);
+            size_t sym_idx = i.first.second;
+            ref<PgfSequence> seq = i.first.first;
+            while (sym_idx < seq->syms.len) {
+                PgfSymbol sym = seq->syms.data[sym_idx];
+                if (ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(sym) != PgfSymbolKS::tag)
+                    break;
+                printer.symbol(sym);
+                sym_idx++;
+            }
+            printer.nprintf(64, ": state %ld\n", i.second->id);
+
+            PgfText *text = printer.get_text();
+            fputs(text->text, stderr);
+            free(text);
+#endif
         }
     }
 
@@ -971,6 +1031,18 @@ ref<PgfLRTable> PgfLRTableMaker::make()
             shift->next_state = i.second->id;
         }
 
+        ref<Vector<PgfLRShiftKS>> tokens = 0;
+        if (state->tokens.size() > 0) {
+            size_t index = 0;
+            tokens = vector_new<PgfLRShiftKS>(state->tokens.size());
+            for (auto i : state->tokens) {
+                ref<PgfLRShiftKS> shift = vector_elem(tokens,index++);
+                shift->seq = i.first.first;
+                shift->sym_idx = i.first.second;
+                shift->next_state = i.second->id;
+            }
+        }
+
         auto reductions = vector_new<PgfLRReduce>(state->completed.size());
         for (size_t i = 0; i < state->completed.size(); i++) {
             Item *item = state->completed[i];
@@ -993,6 +1065,7 @@ ref<PgfLRTable> PgfLRTableMaker::make()
 
         ref<PgfLRState> lrstate = vector_elem(lrtable, state->id);
         lrstate->shifts = shifts;
+        lrstate->tokens = tokens;
         lrstate->reductions = reductions;
     }
     return lrtable;
@@ -1111,19 +1184,38 @@ void PgfParser::print_prod(Choice *choice, Production *prod)
     free(text);
 }
 
-void PgfParser::print_transition(StackNode *source, StackNode *target, Stage *stage)
+void PgfParser::print_transition(StackNode *source, StackNode *target, Stage *stage, ref<PgfLRShiftKS> shift)
 {
-    fprintf(stderr, "state %ld --- ?%d ---> state %ld (position %zu-%zu, nodes %zu)\n",
-                source->state_id, target->choice->fid, target->state_id,
-                stage->start.pos, stage->end.pos,
-                stage->nodes.size());
+    PgfPrinter printer(NULL, 0, m);
+    printer.nprintf(64, "state %ld --- ", source->state_id);
+    if (target->choice != 0) {
+        printer.nprintf(32, "?%d", target->choice->fid);
+    }
+    if (shift != 0) {            
+        size_t sym_idx = shift->sym_idx;
+        ref<PgfSequence> seq = shift->seq;
+        while (sym_idx < seq->syms.len) {
+            PgfSymbol sym = seq->syms.data[sym_idx];
+            if (ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(sym) != PgfSymbolKS::tag)
+                break;
+            printer.symbol(sym);
+            sym_idx++;
+        }
+    }
+    printer.nprintf(80, " ---> state %ld (position %zu-%zu, nodes %zu)\n",
+                    target->state_id,
+                    stage->start.pos, stage->end.pos, stage->nodes.size());
+    PgfText *text = printer.get_text();
+    fputs(text->text, stderr);
+    free(text);
 }
 #endif
 
-PgfParser::PgfParser(ref<PgfConcr> concr, ref<PgfConcrLincat> start, PgfText *sentence, PgfMarshaller *m, PgfUnmarshaller *u)
+PgfParser::PgfParser(ref<PgfConcr> concr, ref<PgfConcrLincat> start, PgfText *sentence, bool case_sensitive, PgfMarshaller *m, PgfUnmarshaller *u)
 {
     this->concr = concr;
     this->sentence = sentence;
+    this->case_sensitive = case_sensitive;
     this->m = m;
     this->u = u;
     this->last_fid = 0;
@@ -1134,12 +1226,12 @@ PgfParser::PgfParser(ref<PgfConcr> concr, ref<PgfConcrLincat> start, PgfText *se
     spot.pos = 0;
     spot.ptr = (uint8_t*) sentence->text;
 
-    this->before = NULL;
+    this->before = new Stage(spot);
     this->after  = NULL;
-    this->ahead  = new Stage(spot);
+    this->ahead  = NULL;
 
-    StackNode *node = new StackNode(ahead, 0);
-    this->ahead->nodes.push_back(node);
+    StackNode *node = new StackNode(before, 0);
+    this->before->nodes.push_back(node);
 }
 
 void PgfParser::shift(StackNode *parent, ref<PgfConcrLincat> lincat, size_t r, Production *prod,
@@ -1172,7 +1264,7 @@ void PgfParser::shift(StackNode *parent, ref<PgfConcrLincat> lincat, size_t r, P
             if (std::find(node->parents.begin(), node->parents.end(), parent) == node->parents.end()) {
                 node->parents.push_back(parent);
 #ifdef DEBUG_PARSER
-                print_transition(parent,node,after);
+                print_transition(parent,node,after,0);
 #endif
             }
 
@@ -1181,6 +1273,48 @@ void PgfParser::shift(StackNode *parent, ref<PgfConcrLincat> lincat, size_t r, P
     }
 }
 
+void PgfParser::shift(StackNode *parent, Stage *before)
+{
+    ref<Vector<PgfLRShiftKS>> shifts = vector_elem(concr->lrtable,parent->state_id)->tokens;
+    if (shifts != 0) {
+        const uint8_t *sent_end = (const uint8_t *) &sentence->text[sentence->size];
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < shifts->len; i++) {
+            ref<PgfLRShiftKS> shift = vector_elem(shifts, i);
+            PgfTextSpot spot = before->end;
+            size_t sym_idx = shift->sym_idx;
+            int cmp =
+                text_sequence_cmp(&spot, sent_end,
+                                  shift->seq, &sym_idx,
+                                  case_sensitive, SM_PARTIAL);
+            if (cmp == 0) {
+                start_matches(&spot, NULL);
+
+                StackNode *node = NULL;
+                for (StackNode *n : after->nodes) {
+                    if (n->stage == before && n->state_id == shift->next_state) {
+                        node = n;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+                if (node == NULL) {
+                    node = new StackNode(before, shift->next_state);
+                    node->choice = NULL;
+                    after->nodes.push_back(node);
+                }
+
+                if (std::find(node->parents.begin(), node->parents.end(), parent) == node->parents.end()) {
+                    node->parents.push_back(parent);
+#ifdef DEBUG_PARSER
+                    print_transition(parent,node,after,shift);
+#endif
+                }
+
+                end_matches(&spot, NULL);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 PgfParser::Choice *PgfParser::intersect_choice(Choice *choice1, Choice *choice2, intersection_map &im)
 {
     if (choice1 == NULL)
@@ -1352,6 +1486,7 @@ void PgfParser::space(PgfTextSpot *start, PgfTextSpot *end, PgfExn* err)
     while (i < before->nodes.size()) {
         StackNode *node = before->nodes[i++];
         reduce_all(node);
+        shift(node, before);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/c/pgf/parser.h b/src/runtime/c/pgf/parser.h
index 2e35fa191..0e8654bd4 100644
--- a/src/runtime/c/pgf/parser.h
+++ b/src/runtime/c/pgf/parser.h
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ class PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfLRTableMaker
         }
     };
 
+    typedef std::pair<ref<PgfSequence>,size_t> Key3;
+
+    struct PGF_INTERNAL_DECL CompareKey3 : std::less<Key3> {
+        bool operator() (const Key3& k1, const Key3& k2) const;
+    };
+
     ref<PgfAbstr> abstr;
     ref<PgfConcr> concr;
 
@@ -81,7 +87,7 @@ class PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfLRTableMaker
     void print_production(CCat *ccat, Production *prod);
     void print_item(Item *item);
 
-    void transition(PgfConcrLincat *lincat, size_t lin_idx, State *&state);
+    void internalize_state(State *&state);
 
 public:
     PgfLRTableMaker(ref<PgfAbstr> abstr, ref<PgfConcr> concr);
@@ -95,6 +101,7 @@ class PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfParser : public PgfPhraseScanner, public PgfExprEnum
 {
     ref<PgfConcr> concr;
     PgfText *sentence;
+    bool case_sensitive;
     PgfMarshaller *m;
     PgfUnmarshaller *u;
 
@@ -119,6 +126,7 @@ class PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfParser : public PgfPhraseScanner, public PgfExprEnum
 
     void shift(StackNode *parent, ref<PgfConcrLincat> lincat, size_t r, Production *prod,
                Stage *before, Stage *after);
+    void shift(StackNode *parent, Stage *before);
     void reduce(StackNode *parent, ref<PgfConcrLin> lin, ref<PgfLRReduce> red,
                 size_t n, std::vector<Choice*> &args,
                 Stage *before, Stage *after);
@@ -127,7 +135,7 @@ class PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfParser : public PgfPhraseScanner, public PgfExprEnum
                   size_t n, std::vector<Choice*> &args);
     void reduce_all(StackNode *state);
     void print_prod(Choice *choice, Production *prod);
-    void print_transition(StackNode *source, StackNode *target, Stage *stage);
+    void print_transition(StackNode *source, StackNode *target, Stage *stage, ref<PgfLRShiftKS> shift);
 
     typedef std::map<std::pair<Choice*,Choice*>,Choice*> intersection_map;
 
@@ -144,7 +152,7 @@ class PGF_INTERNAL_DECL PgfParser : public PgfPhraseScanner, public PgfExprEnum
     void release_expr_state(ExprState *state);
 
 public:
-    PgfParser(ref<PgfConcr> concr, ref<PgfConcrLincat> start, PgfText *sentence, PgfMarshaller *m, PgfUnmarshaller *u);
+    PgfParser(ref<PgfConcr> concr, ref<PgfConcrLincat> start, PgfText *sentence, bool case_sensitive, PgfMarshaller *m, PgfUnmarshaller *u);
 
 	virtual void space(PgfTextSpot *start, PgfTextSpot *end, PgfExn* err);
     virtual void start_matches(PgfTextSpot *end, PgfExn* err);
diff --git a/src/runtime/c/pgf/pgf.cxx b/src/runtime/c/pgf/pgf.cxx
index adf95efe7..c2c5bd9b7 100644
--- a/src/runtime/c/pgf/pgf.cxx
+++ b/src/runtime/c/pgf/pgf.cxx
@@ -2743,7 +2743,7 @@ PgfExprEnum *pgf_parse(PgfDB *db, PgfConcrRevision revision,
         if (lincat_u.lincat == 0)
             return 0;
 
-        PgfParser *parser = new PgfParser(concr, lincat_u.lincat, sentence, m, u);
+        PgfParser *parser = new PgfParser(concr, lincat_u.lincat, sentence, case_sensitive, m, u);
         phrasetable_lookup_cohorts(concr->phrasetable,
                                    sentence, case_sensitive,
                                    parser, err);
@@ -3170,6 +3170,24 @@ pgf_graphviz_lr_automaton(PgfDB *db, PgfConcrRevision revision,
                 printer.efun(&shift->lincat->name);
                 printer.nprintf(16, ".%zu\"];\n", shift->r);
             }
+
+            for (size_t j = 0; j < state->tokens->len; j++) {
+                ref<PgfLRShiftKS> shift = vector_elem(state->tokens, j);
+                printer.nprintf(16, "  s%zu -> s%zu [label=\"", i, shift->next_state);
+                size_t sym_idx = shift->sym_idx;
+                while (sym_idx < shift->seq->syms.len) {
+                    if (ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(shift->seq->syms.data[sym_idx]) != PgfSymbolKS::tag)
+                        break;
+                    if (sym_idx > shift->sym_idx)
+                        printer.puts(" ");
+                    auto symks = ref<PgfSymbolKS>::untagged(shift->seq->syms.data[sym_idx]);
+                    printer.puts("\\\"");
+                    printer.put_esc_str(&symks->token);
+                    printer.puts("\\\"");
+                    sym_idx++;
+                }
+                printer.puts("\"];\n");
+            }
         }
         printer.puts("}");
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/c/pgf/phrasetable.cxx b/src/runtime/c/pgf/phrasetable.cxx
index ade41844a..1c2506ddc 100644
--- a/src/runtime/c/pgf/phrasetable.cxx
+++ b/src/runtime/c/pgf/phrasetable.cxx
@@ -228,28 +228,33 @@ int sequence_cmp(ref<PgfSequence> seq1, ref<PgfSequence> seq2)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static
+PGF_INTERNAL
 int text_sequence_cmp(PgfTextSpot *spot, const uint8_t *end,
-                      ref<PgfSequence> seq,
-                      bool case_sensitive, bool full_match)
+                      ref<PgfSequence> seq, size_t *p_i,
+                      bool case_sensitive, SeqMatch sm)
 {
 	int res1 = 0;
 
-    size_t i = 0;
     const uint8_t *s2 = NULL;
     const uint8_t *e2 = NULL;
 
+    uint8_t t = 0xff;
+    if (*p_i < seq->syms.len) {
+        t = ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(seq->syms.data[*p_i]);
+    }
+
     size_t count = 0;
 
     for (;;) {
         if (spot->ptr >= end) {
-            if (s2 < e2 || i < seq->syms.len)
+            if (s2 < e2 || t == PgfSymbolKS::tag)
                 return -1;
             return case_sensitive ? res1 : 0;
         }
 
-        if (s2 >= e2 && i >= seq->syms.len)
-            return full_match ? 1 : 0;
+        if (s2 >= e2 && t != PgfSymbolKS::tag) {
+            return (sm == SM_FULL_MATCH) ? 1 : 0;
+        }
 
         uint32_t ucs1  = pgf_utf8_decode(&spot->ptr); spot->pos++;
         uint32_t ucs1i = pgf_utf8_to_upper(ucs1);
@@ -268,16 +273,21 @@ int text_sequence_cmp(PgfTextSpot *spot, const uint8_t *end,
                 }
             }
 
-            uint8_t t = ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(seq->syms.data[i]);
             if (t != PgfSymbolKS::tag) {
+                if (sm == SM_PARTIAL)
+                    return 0;
                 return ((int) PgfSymbolKS::tag) - ((int) t);
             }
 
-            auto sym_ks = ref<PgfSymbolKS>::untagged(seq->syms.data[i]);
+            auto sym_ks = ref<PgfSymbolKS>::untagged(seq->syms.data[*p_i]);
             s2 = (uint8_t *) &sym_ks->token.text;
             e2 = s2+sym_ks->token.size;
 
-            i++;
+            (*p_i)++;
+            t = 0xff;
+            if (*p_i < seq->syms.len) {
+                t = ref<PgfSymbol>::get_tag(seq->syms.data[*p_i]);
+            }
         }
 
         uint32_t ucs2  = pgf_utf8_decode(&s2);
@@ -552,7 +562,8 @@ void phrasetable_lookup(PgfPhrasetable table,
     current.pos = 0;
     current.ptr = (uint8_t *) sentence->text;
     const uint8_t *end = current.ptr+sentence->size;
-    int cmp = text_sequence_cmp(&current,end,table->value.seq,case_sensitive,true);
+    size_t sym_idx = 0;
+    int cmp = text_sequence_cmp(&current,end,table->value.seq,&sym_idx,case_sensitive,SM_FULL_MATCH);
     if (cmp < 0) {
         phrasetable_lookup(table->left,sentence,case_sensitive,scanner,err);
     } else if (cmp > 0) {
@@ -662,7 +673,8 @@ void phrasetable_lookup_prefixes(PgfCohortsState *state,
         return;
 
     PgfTextSpot current = state->spot;
-    int cmp = text_sequence_cmp(&current,state->end,table->value.seq,state->case_sensitive,false);
+    size_t sym_idx = 0;
+    int cmp = text_sequence_cmp(&current,state->end,table->value.seq,&sym_idx,state->case_sensitive,SM_PREFIX);
     if (cmp < 0) {
         phrasetable_lookup_prefixes(state,table->left,min,max);
     } else if (cmp > 0) {
diff --git a/src/runtime/c/pgf/phrasetable.h b/src/runtime/c/pgf/phrasetable.h
index 6d4236df9..b5553d2b4 100644
--- a/src/runtime/c/pgf/phrasetable.h
+++ b/src/runtime/c/pgf/phrasetable.h
@@ -115,4 +115,13 @@ void phrasetable_iter(PgfConcr *concr,
 PGF_INTERNAL_DECL
 void phrasetable_release(PgfPhrasetable table);
 
+// The following are used internally in the parser
+
+enum SeqMatch { SM_FULL_MATCH, SM_PREFIX, SM_PARTIAL };
+
+PGF_INTERNAL_DECL
+int text_sequence_cmp(PgfTextSpot *spot, const uint8_t *end,
+                      ref<PgfSequence> seq, size_t *p_i,
+                      bool case_sensitive, SeqMatch sm);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/runtime/c/pgf/printer.cxx b/src/runtime/c/pgf/printer.cxx
index c9675a4f9..e185dc335 100644
--- a/src/runtime/c/pgf/printer.cxx
+++ b/src/runtime/c/pgf/printer.cxx
@@ -45,6 +45,47 @@ void PgfPrinter::puts(const char *s)
     }
 }
 
+void PgfPrinter::put_esc_str(PgfText *v)
+{
+    PgfText *charbuf = (PgfText *) alloca(sizeof(PgfText)+7);
+
+    const uint8_t* start = (uint8_t*) v->text;
+    const uint8_t* end   = start + v->size;
+    while (start < end) {
+        const uint8_t* s = start;
+        uint32_t c = pgf_utf8_decode(&s);
+        switch (c) {
+        case '\\':
+            puts("\\\\");
+            break;
+        case '"':
+            puts("\\\"");
+            break;
+        case '\n':
+            puts("\\n");
+            break;
+        case '\r':
+            puts("\\r");
+            break;
+        case '\b':
+            puts("\\b");
+            break;
+        case '\t':
+            puts("\\t");
+            break;
+        case '\0':
+            puts("\\0");
+            break;
+        default:
+            charbuf->size = s-start;
+            memcpy(charbuf->text, start, charbuf->size);
+            charbuf->text[charbuf->size] = 0;
+            puts(charbuf);
+        }
+        start = s;
+    }
+}
+
 void PgfPrinter::nprintf(size_t buf_size, const char *format, ...)
 {
 again: {
@@ -348,44 +389,8 @@ PgfLiteral PgfPrinter::lflt(double v)
 
 PgfLiteral PgfPrinter::lstr(PgfText *v)
 {
-    PgfText *charbuf = (PgfText *) alloca(sizeof(PgfText)+7);
-
     puts("\"");
-    const uint8_t* start = (uint8_t*) v->text;
-    const uint8_t* end   = start + v->size;
-    while (start < end) {
-        const uint8_t* s = start;
-        uint32_t c = pgf_utf8_decode(&s);
-        switch (c) {
-        case '\\':
-            puts("\\\\");
-            break;
-        case '"':
-            puts("\\\"");
-            break;
-        case '\n':
-            puts("\\n");
-            break;
-        case '\r':
-            puts("\\r");
-            break;
-        case '\b':
-            puts("\\b");
-            break;
-        case '\t':
-            puts("\\t");
-            break;
-        case '\0':
-            puts("\\0");
-            break;
-        default:
-            charbuf->size = s-start;
-            memcpy(charbuf->text, start, charbuf->size);
-            charbuf->text[charbuf->size] = 0;
-            puts(charbuf);
-        }
-        start = s;
-    }
+    put_esc_str(v);
     puts("\"");
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/runtime/c/pgf/printer.h b/src/runtime/c/pgf/printer.h
index db069a667..9d13f202b 100644
--- a/src/runtime/c/pgf/printer.h
+++ b/src/runtime/c/pgf/printer.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ public:
     void puts(PgfText *s);
     void puts(const char *s);
 
+    void put_esc_str(PgfText *v);
+
     // buf_size is the expected buffer size. If larger is needed,
     // it will be allocated automatically.
 #if defined(_MSC_VER)