diff --git a/frappe/__init__.py b/frappe/__init__.py
index 83ec87e92d..d436288c7d 100644
--- a/frappe/__init__.py
+++ b/frappe/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import os, sys, importlib, inspect, json
 from .exceptions import *
 from .utils.jinja import get_jenv, get_template, render_template, get_email_from_template
 
-__version__ = '10.0.17'
+__version__ = '10.0.18'
 __title__ = "Frappe Framework"
 
 local = Local()
diff --git a/frappe/model/naming.py b/frappe/model/naming.py
index dc8fb74f19..88fba659c9 100644
--- a/frappe/model/naming.py
+++ b/frappe/model/naming.py
@@ -200,17 +200,13 @@ def _set_amended_name(doc):
 def append_number_if_name_exists(doctype, value, fieldname='name', separator='-'):
 	exists = frappe.db.exists(doctype,
 		value if fieldname == 'name' else {fieldname: value})
-
+				
+	regex = '^{value}{separator}[[:digit:]]+'.format(value=re.escape(value), separator=separator)
 	if exists:
-		# should be escaped 2 times since
-		# python string will parse the first escape
-		escaped_value = re.escape(re.escape(value))
-
 		last = frappe.db.sql("""select {fieldname} from `tab{doctype}`
-			where {fieldname} regexp '^{value}{separator}[[:digit:]]+'
+			where {fieldname} regexp %s
 			order by length({fieldname}) desc,
-				{fieldname} desc limit 1""".format(doctype=doctype,
-					value=escaped_value, fieldname=fieldname, separator=separator))
+				{fieldname} desc limit 1""".format(doctype=doctype, fieldname=fieldname), regex)
 
 		if last:
 			count = str(cint(last[0][0].rsplit(separator, 1)[1]) + 1)