diff --git a/R/markdown.R b/R/markdown.R
index 39bce8e24..7685da533 100644
--- a/R/markdown.R
+++ b/R/markdown.R
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ markdown_tags <- list(
   },
 
   code = function(xml) {
-    list("\\code{", gsub("%", "\\\\%", xml_contents(xml)), "}")
+    list("\\code{", gsub("%", "\\\\%", xml_text(xml)), "}")
   },
 
   html_inline = function(xml) {
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-rd-markdown.R b/tests/testthat/test-rd-markdown.R
index d590858bc..e2d93612c 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-rd-markdown.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-rd-markdown.R
@@ -68,6 +68,16 @@ test_that("inline code escapes %", {
   expect_equal(out$get_field("title")$values, "\\code{0.5\\%}")
 })
 
+test_that("inline code works with < and >", {
+  out <- roc_proc_text(rd_roclet(), "
+    #' `SELECT <name> FROM <table>`
+    #' @md
+    f <- function() 1
+  ")[[1]]
+
+  expect_equal(out$get_field("title")$values, "\\code{SELECT <name> FROM <table>}")
+})
+
 test_that("itemized lists work", {
   out1 <- roc_proc_text(roc, "
     #' Title