diff --git a/src/bumpver/patterns.py b/src/bumpver/patterns.py
index 2d76f4a..c62cba8 100644
--- a/src/bumpver/patterns.py
+++ b/src/bumpver/patterns.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ RE_PATTERN_ESCAPES = [
     ("\u005c", "\u005c\u005c"),
     ("-"     , "\u005c-"),
     ("."     , "\u005c."),
-    ("!"     , "\u005c!"),
     ("+"     , "\u005c+"),
     ("*"     , "\u005c*"),
     ("?"     , "\u005c?"),