diff --git a/lib/chai/core/assertions.js b/lib/chai/core/assertions.js
index fcca6bf2f..90553553d 100644
--- a/lib/chai/core/assertions.js
+++ b/lib/chai/core/assertions.js
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ module.exports = function (chai, _) {
    *     expect({ foo: { bar: { baz: 'quux' } } })
    *       .to.have.deep.property('foo.bar.baz', 'quux');
    *
+   * In the `property` assertion, setting `deep` flag may require
+   * to escape dot and brackets, while that is a rare case.
+   * See also the documentation of `.deep.property`.
+   *
    * @name deep
    * @api public
    */
@@ -793,6 +797,18 @@ module.exports = function (chai, _) {
    *       .with.deep.property('[2]')
    *         .that.deep.equals({ tea: 'konacha' });
    *
+   * Note that dots and bracket in `name` must be backslash-escaped when
+   * the `deep` flag is set, while they must NOT be escaped when the `deep`
+   * flag is not set.
+   *
+   *     // simple referencing
+   *     var css = { '.link[target]': 42 };
+   *     expect(css).to.have.property('.link[target]', 42);
+   *
+   *     // deep referencing
+   *     var deepCss = { '.link': { '[target]': 42 }};
+   *     expect(deepCss).to.have.deep.property('\\.link.\\[target\\]', 42);
+   *
    * @name property
    * @alias deep.property
    * @param {String} name
diff --git a/lib/chai/utils/getPathInfo.js b/lib/chai/utils/getPathInfo.js
index 67aa66198..3bb19d224 100644
--- a/lib/chai/utils/getPathInfo.js
+++ b/lib/chai/utils/getPathInfo.js
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ module.exports = function getPathInfo(path, obj) {
  *
  * * Can be as near infinitely deep and nested
  * * Arrays are also valid using the formal `myobject.document[3].property`.
+ * * Literal dots and brackets (not delimiter) must be backslash-escaped.
  *
  * @param {String} path
  * @returns {Object} parsed
@@ -61,13 +62,13 @@ module.exports = function getPathInfo(path, obj) {
  */
 
 function parsePath (path) {
-  var str = path.replace(/\[/g, '.[')
+  var str = path.replace(/([^\\])\[/g, '$1.[')
     , parts = str.match(/(\\\.|[^.]+?)+/g);
   return parts.map(function (value) {
-    var re = /\[(\d+)\]$/
+    var re = /^\[(\d+)\]$/
       , mArr = re.exec(value);
     if (mArr) return { i: parseFloat(mArr[1]) };
-    else return { p: value };
+    else return { p: value.replace(/\\([.\[\]])/g, '$1') };
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/test/expect.js b/test/expect.js
index cd204a9b0..0d11c67e6 100644
--- a/test/expect.js
+++ b/test/expect.js
@@ -411,6 +411,9 @@ describe('expect', function () {
     expect(obj).to.have.property('foo');
     expect(obj).to.have.property('bar');
 
+    expect({ 'foo.bar[]': 'baz'})
+      .to.have.property('foo.bar[]');
+
     err(function(){
       expect('asd').to.have.property('foo');
     }, "expected 'asd' to have a property 'foo'");
@@ -429,6 +432,9 @@ describe('expect', function () {
     expect({ 'foo': [1, 2, 3] })
       .to.have.deep.property('foo[1]');
 
+    expect({ 'foo.bar[]': 'baz'})
+      .to.have.deep.property('foo\\.bar\\[\\]');
+
     err(function(){
       expect({ 'foo.bar': 'baz' })
         .to.have.deep.property('foo.bar');
diff --git a/test/utilities.js b/test/utilities.js
index 2ea0cb684..9c6b8e69b 100644
--- a/test/utilities.js
+++ b/test/utilities.js
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@ describe('utilities', function () {
           dimensions: {
             units: 'mm',
             lengths: [[1.2, 3.5], [2.2, 1.5], [5, 7]]
+          },
+          'dimensions.lengths': {
+            '[2]': [1.2, 3.5]
           }
         };
 
@@ -152,6 +155,15 @@ describe('utilities', function () {
       info.name.should.equal(5);
       info.exists.should.be.false;
     });
+
+    it('should handle backslash-escaping for .[]', function() {
+      var info = gpi('dimensions\\.lengths.\\[2\\][1]', obj);
+
+      info.parent.should.equal(obj['dimensions.lengths']['[2]']);
+      info.value.should.equal(obj['dimensions.lengths']['[2]'][1]);
+      info.name.should.equal(1);
+      info.exists.should.be.true;
+    });
   });
 
   describe('hasProperty', function() {