diff --git a/cssesc.js b/cssesc.js
index 1c0928e..3e9071c 100644
--- a/cssesc.js
+++ b/cssesc.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ var merge = function merge(options, defaults) {
 
 var regexAnySingleEscape = /[ -,\.\/:-@\[-\^`\{-~]/;
 var regexSingleEscape = /[ -,\.\/:-@\[\]\^`\{-~]/;
-var regexAlwaysEscape = /['"\\]/;
 var regexExcessiveSpaces = /(^|\\+)?(\\[A-F0-9]{1,6})\x20(?![a-fA-F0-9\x20])/g;
 
 // https://mathiasbynens.be/notes/css-escapes#css
diff --git a/src/cssesc.js b/src/cssesc.js
index adeac60..53d7c16 100644
--- a/src/cssesc.js
+++ b/src/cssesc.js
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ const merge = (options, defaults) => {
 
 const regexAnySingleEscape = /<%= anySingleEscape %>/;
 const regexSingleEscape = /<%= singleEscapes %>/;
-const regexAlwaysEscape = /['"\\]/;
 const regexExcessiveSpaces = /(^|\\+)?(\\[A-F0-9]{1,6})\x20(?![a-fA-F0-9\x20])/g;
 
 // https://mathiasbynens.be/notes/css-escapes#css