diff --git a/pandas/lib.pyx b/pandas/lib.pyx
index b09a1c2755a06..5489338c5d174 100644
--- a/pandas/lib.pyx
+++ b/pandas/lib.pyx
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ def convert_json_to_lines(object arr):
     length = narr.shape[0]
     for i in range(length):
         v = narr[i]
-        if v == quote and i > 0 and narr[i - 1] != backslash:
+        if v == quote and i > 0 and narr[i - 1] != backslash and i > 1 and narr[i - 2] != backslash:
             in_quotes = ~in_quotes
         if v == comma: # commas that should be \n
             if num_open_brackets_seen == 0 and not in_quotes: