diff --git a/reference/datetime/functions/strftime.xml b/reference/datetime/functions/strftime.xml
index 8bdadd20b7..7826303c92 100644
--- a/reference/datetime/functions/strftime.xml
+++ b/reference/datetime/functions/strftime.xml
@@ -460,17 +460,18 @@ echo "1/3/2005 - %V,%G,%Y = " . strftime("%V,%G,%Y",strtotime("1/3/2005")) . "\n
   </para>
   <para>
    <example>
-    <title>Cross platform compatible example using the %e modifier</title>
+    <title>Cross platform compatible example using the <literal>%e</literal> modifier</title>
     <programlisting role="php">
 <![CDATA[
 <?php
 
-$format = '%e';
+// Jan 1: results in: '%e%1%' (%%, e, %%, %e, %%)
+$format = '%%e%%%e%%';
 
-// Check for Windows and only attempt to replace 
-// the %e modifiers if they exists in the format
-if (strtoupper(substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3)) == 'WIN' && strpos($format, '%e') !== false) {
-    $format = str_replace('%e', '%#d', $format);
+// Check for Windows to find and replace the %e 
+// modifier correctly
+if (strtoupper(substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3)) == 'WIN') {
+    $format = preg_replace('#(?<!%)((?:%%)*)%e#', '\1%#d', $format);
 }
 
 echo strftime($format);