diff --git a/gentoo/splash.c b/gentoo/splash.c
index b6fa774..726315f 100644
--- a/gentoo/splash.c
+++ b/gentoo/splash.c
@@ -134,6 +134,19 @@ static void get_list(RC_STRINGLIST *list, const char *file)
 	}
 }
 
+static void fix_rc_variable(char *s)
+{
+	do {
+		char *t = strstr(s, "\\$");
+
+		if (t) {
+			memmove(t, t+1, strlen(t));
+		} else {
+			break;
+		}
+	} while(1);
+}
+
 /*
  * Get splash settings from /etc/conf.d/splash
  */
@@ -189,21 +202,27 @@ static int splash_config_gentoo(fbspl_cfg_t *cfg, fbspl_type_t type)
 	switch(type) {
 	case fbspl_reboot:
 		t = rc_config_value(confd, "SPLASH_REBOOT_MESSAGE");
-		if (t)
+		if (t) {
+			fix_rc_variable(t);
 			fbsplash_acc_message_set(t);
+		}
 		break;
 
 	case fbspl_shutdown:
 		t = rc_config_value(confd, "SPLASH_SHUTDOWN_MESSAGE");
-		if (t)
+		if (t) {
+			fix_rc_variable(t);
 			fbsplash_acc_message_set(t);
+		}
 		break;
 
 	case fbspl_bootup:
 	default:
 		t = rc_config_value(confd, "SPLASH_BOOT_MESSAGE");
-		if (t)
+		if (t) {
+			fix_rc_variable(t);
 			fbsplash_acc_message_set(t);
+		}
 		break;
 	}