diff --git a/doc/utils/converters/lammpsdoc/txt2rst.py b/doc/utils/converters/lammpsdoc/txt2rst.py
index aec1b0d02d..73c5ff91dc 100755
--- a/doc/utils/converters/lammpsdoc/txt2rst.py
+++ b/doc/utils/converters/lammpsdoc/txt2rst.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ class RSTMarkup(Markup):
 
     def escape_rst_chars(self, text):
         text = text.replace('*', '\\*')
+        text = text.replace('^', '\\^')
         return text
 
     def inline_math(self, text):
@@ -73,6 +74,8 @@ class RSTMarkup(Markup):
         while start_pos >= 0 and end_pos >= 0:
             original = text[start_pos:end_pos+2]
             formula = original[2:-2]
+            formula = formula.replace('\\*', '*')
+            formula = formula.replace('\\^', '^')
             replacement = ":math:`" + formula.replace('\n', ' ').strip() + "`"
             text = text.replace(original, replacement)
 
@@ -300,6 +303,9 @@ class RSTFormatting(Formatting):
                 start = ""
                 body = parts[0]
 
+            body = body.replace('\\*', '*')
+            body = body.replace('\\^', '^')
+
             if len(start) > 0:
                 text += start + "\n"
             text += "\n.. math::\n\n"
diff --git a/doc/utils/converters/tests/test_txt2rst.py b/doc/utils/converters/tests/test_txt2rst.py
index 9403d419a8..a4b059fbf3 100644
--- a/doc/utils/converters/tests/test_txt2rst.py
+++ b/doc/utils/converters/tests/test_txt2rst.py
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ class TestMarkup(unittest.TestCase):
         s = self.markup.convert("[*bold] and {italic*}")
         self.assertEqual("**\*bold** and *italic\**", s)
 
+    def test_escape_hat_character(self):
+        s = self.markup.convert("x^2")
+        self.assertEqual("x\^2", s)
+
     def test_paragraph_with_italic(self):
         self.assertEqual("A sentence with a *italic* word", self.markup.convert("A sentence with a {italic} word"))
 
@@ -411,6 +415,16 @@ class TestMathMarkup(unittest.TestCase):
                          "   \\frac{s_{ij} r_{ij} }{2} \\right)\n"
                          "   \\exp \\left( - s_{ij} r_{ij} \\right) \\end{equation}\n\n", s)
 
+    def test_detect_latex_equation_with_mult(self):
+        s = self.txt2rst.convert("\\begin\\{equation\\} a = b * c \\end\\{equation\\}\n")
+        self.assertEqual("\n.. math::\n\n"
+                         "   \\begin{equation} a = b * c \\end{equation}\n\n", s)
+
+    def test_detect_latex_equation_with_pow(self):
+        s = self.txt2rst.convert("\\begin\\{equation\\} a = b^c \\end\\{equation\\}\n")
+        self.assertEqual("\n.. math::\n\n"
+                         "   \\begin{equation} a = b^c \\end{equation}\n\n", s)
+
     def test_detect_inline_latex_equation(self):
         s = self.txt2rst.convert("Masses: \\begin\\{equation\\} M' = M + m \\end\\{equation\\}\n"
                                  "\\begin\\{equation\\} m' = \\frac \\{M\\, m \\} \\{M'\\} \\end\\{equation\\}\n")
@@ -426,6 +440,9 @@ class TestMathMarkup(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_detect_inline_math(self):
         self.assertEqual(":math:`x^2`", self.markup.convert("\\( x^2 \\)"))
 
+    def test_detect_inline_math_mult(self):
+        self.assertEqual(":math:`x * 2`", self.markup.convert("\\( x * 2 \\)"))
+
     def test_detect_multiline_inline_math(self):
         line = "\\(\\sqrt \\{ \\frac \\{2\, k_B \\mathtt\\{Tcom\\}\, m'\\}\n" \
                "\\{\\mathrm dt\\, \\mathtt\\{damp\\_com\\} \\}\n" \