diff --git a/compiler/pragmas.nim b/compiler/pragmas.nim
index 4d6d311c98..52eb46bf42 100644
--- a/compiler/pragmas.nim
+++ b/compiler/pragmas.nim
@@ -448,6 +448,9 @@ proc semAsmOrEmit*(con: PContext, n: PNode, marker: char): PNode =
           addSon(result, newSymNode(e))
         else: 
           addSon(result, newStrNode(nkStrLit, sub))
+      else:
+        # an empty '``' produces a single '`'
+        addSon(result, newStrNode(nkStrLit, $marker))
       if c < 0: break 
       a = c + 1
   else: illFormedAst(n)
diff --git a/doc/nimc.txt b/doc/nimc.txt
index 8af045e2e6..3b7390d780 100644
--- a/doc/nimc.txt
+++ b/doc/nimc.txt
@@ -382,7 +382,10 @@ Example:
   {.pop.}
 
   embedsC()
-
+
+As can be seen from the example, to Nim symbols can be referred via backticks.
+Use two backticks to produce a single verbatim backtick.
+
 
 ImportCpp pragma
 ----------------
diff --git a/web/news.txt b/web/news.txt
index 7038e82341..c9374558af 100644
--- a/web/news.txt
+++ b/web/news.txt
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ News
       os.getEnv, os.existsEnv, os.dirExists, os.fileExists,
       system.writeFile
 
+  - Two backticks now produce a single backtick within an ``emit`` or ``asm``
+    statement.
+    
 
 2014-10-19 Nimrod version 0.9.6 released
 ========================================