diff --git a/examples/common.cpp b/examples/common.cpp
index 27f39ca1a..cd6300041 100644
--- a/examples/common.cpp
+++ b/examples/common.cpp
@@ -66,38 +66,33 @@ int32_t get_num_physical_cores() {
     return n_threads > 0 ? (n_threads <= 4 ? n_threads : n_threads / 2) : 4;
 }
 
-std::string process_escapes(const char* input) {
-    std::string output;
+void process_escapes(std::string& input) {
+    std::size_t input_len = input.length();
+    std::size_t output_idx = 0;
 
-    if (input != nullptr) {
-        std::size_t input_len = std::strlen(input);
-        output.reserve(input_len);
-
-        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < input_len; ++i) {
-            if (input[i] == '\\' && i + 1 < input_len) {
-                switch (input[++i]) {
-                    case 'n':  output.push_back('\n'); break;
-                    case 'r':  output.push_back('\r'); break;
-                    case 't':  output.push_back('\t'); break;
-                    case '\'': output.push_back('\''); break;
-                    case '\"': output.push_back('\"'); break;
-                    case '\\': output.push_back('\\'); break;
-                    default:   output.push_back('\\');
-                               output.push_back(input[i]); break;
-                }
-            } else {
-                output.push_back(input[i]);
+    for (std::size_t input_idx = 0; input_idx < input_len; ++input_idx) {
+        if (input[input_idx] == '\\' && input_idx + 1 < input_len) {
+            switch (input[++input_idx]) {
+                case 'n':  input[output_idx++] = '\n'; break;
+                case 'r':  input[output_idx++] = '\r'; break;
+                case 't':  input[output_idx++] = '\t'; break;
+                case '\'': input[output_idx++] = '\''; break;
+                case '\"': input[output_idx++] = '\"'; break;
+                case '\\': input[output_idx++] = '\\'; break;
+                default:   input[output_idx++] = '\\';
+                           input[output_idx++] = input[input_idx]; break;
             }
+        } else {
+            input[output_idx++] = input[input_idx];
         }
     }
 
-    return output;
+    input.resize(output_idx);
 }
 
 bool gpt_params_parse(int argc, char ** argv, gpt_params & params) {
     bool invalid_param = false;
     bool escape_prompt = false;
-    const char* prompt = nullptr;
     std::string arg;
     gpt_params default_params;
 
@@ -121,7 +116,7 @@ bool gpt_params_parse(int argc, char ** argv, gpt_params & params) {
                 invalid_param = true;
                 break;
             }
-            prompt = argv[i];
+            params.prompt = argv[i];
         } else if (arg == "-e") {
             escape_prompt = true;
         } else if (arg == "--session") {
@@ -340,7 +335,9 @@ bool gpt_params_parse(int argc, char ** argv, gpt_params & params) {
         gpt_print_usage(argc, argv, default_params);
         exit(1);
     }
-    params.prompt = escape_prompt ? process_escapes(prompt) : prompt;
+    if (escape_prompt) {
+        process_escapes(params.prompt);
+    }
 
     return true;
 }