diff --git a/sphinx/apidoc.py b/sphinx/apidoc.py
index 19a711370..a8e819acd 100644
--- a/sphinx/apidoc.py
+++ b/sphinx/apidoc.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from fnmatch import fnmatch
 
 from sphinx.util.osutil import FileAvoidWrite, walk
 from sphinx import __display_version__
+from sphinx.util import rst
 
 # automodule options
 if 'SPHINX_APIDOC_OPTIONS' in os.environ:
@@ -67,8 +68,10 @@ def write_file(name, text, opts):
             f.write(text)
 
 
-def format_heading(level, text):
+def format_heading(level, text, escape=True):
     """Create a heading of <level> [1, 2 or 3 supported]."""
+    if escape:
+        text = rst.escape(text)
     underlining = ['=', '-', '~', ][level - 1] * len(text)
     return '%s\n%s\n\n' % (text, underlining)
 
@@ -149,7 +152,7 @@ def create_package_file(root, master_package, subroot, py_files, opts, subs, is_
 
 def create_modules_toc_file(modules, opts, name='modules'):
     """Create the module's index."""
-    text = format_heading(1, '%s' % opts.header)
+    text = format_heading(1, '%s' % opts.header, escape=False)
     text += '.. toctree::\n'
     text += '   :maxdepth: %s\n\n' % opts.maxdepth
 
diff --git a/tests/root/trailing_underscore/package_/__init__.py b/tests/root/trailing_underscore/package_/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b09612b83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/root/trailing_underscore/package_/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+""" A package with trailing underscores """
diff --git a/tests/root/trailing_underscore/package_/module_.py b/tests/root/trailing_underscore/package_/module_.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9902551ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/root/trailing_underscore/package_/module_.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+""" A module with a trailing underscore """
+
+class SomeClass_:
+    """ A class with a trailing underscore """
+
+def some_function_(some_arg_):
+    """ A function with a trailing underscore in name and argument """
diff --git a/tests/test_apidoc.py b/tests/test_apidoc.py
index d44868aeb..d161fcd05 100644
--- a/tests/test_apidoc.py
+++ b/tests/test_apidoc.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ from sphinx.apidoc import main as apidoc_main
 
 from util import rootdir, remove_unicode_literals
 
+from sphinx.util.rst import escape as rst_escape
+
 
 @pytest.fixture()
 def apidoc(tempdir, apidoc_params):
@@ -71,13 +73,13 @@ def test_pep_0420_enabled(make_app, apidoc):
 
     with open(outdir / 'a.b.c.rst') as f:
         rst = f.read()
-        assert "a.b.c package\n" in rst
+        assert rst_escape("a.b.c package\n") in rst
         assert "automodule:: a.b.c.d\n" in rst
         assert "automodule:: a.b.c\n" in rst
 
     with open(outdir / 'a.b.x.rst') as f:
         rst = f.read()
-        assert "a.b.x namespace\n" in rst
+        assert rst_escape("a.b.x namespace\n") in rst
         assert "automodule:: a.b.x.y\n" in rst
         assert "automodule:: a.b.x\n" not in rst
 
@@ -118,6 +120,15 @@ def test_pep_0420_disabled_top_level_verify(make_app, apidoc):
     print(app._status.getvalue())
     print(app._warning.getvalue())
 
+@pytest.mark.apidoc(coderoot=(rootdir / 'root' / 'trailing_underscore'))
+def test_trailing_underscore(make_app, apidoc):
+    outdir = apidoc.outdir
+    assert (outdir / 'conf.py').isfile()
+    assert (outdir / 'package_.rst').isfile()
+    with open(outdir / 'package_.rst') as f:
+        rst = f.read()
+        assert rst_escape("package_ package\n") in rst
+        assert rst_escape("package_.module_ module\n") in rst
 
 @pytest.mark.apidoc(
     coderoot=(rootdir / 'root'),