diff --git a/sphinx/writers/latex.py b/sphinx/writers/latex.py
index 25c82940c..869759ee5 100644
--- a/sphinx/writers/latex.py
+++ b/sphinx/writers/latex.py
@@ -1210,7 +1210,7 @@ class LaTeXTranslator(SphinxTranslator):
         ncolumns = node['ncolumns']
         if self.compact_list > 1:
             self.body.append(r'\setlength{\multicolsep}{0pt}' + CR)
-        self.body.append(r'\begin{multicols}{' + ncolumns + '}\raggedright' + CR)
+        self.body.append(r'\begin{multicols}{' + ncolumns + r'}\raggedright' + CR)
         self.body.append(r'\begin{itemize}\setlength{\itemsep}{0pt}'
                          r'\setlength{\parskip}{0pt}' + CR)
         if self.table: