diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py b/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
index f3ffc827..5f17596a 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class FilterSystemd(JournalFilter): # pragma: systemd no cover
 		logSys.log(5, "[%s] Read systemd journal entry: %s %s", self.jailName,
 			date.isoformat(), logline)
 		## use the same type for 1st argument:
-		return ((logline[:0], date.isoformat(), logline),
+		return ((logline[:0], date.isoformat(), logline.replace('\n', '\\n')),
 			time.mktime(date.timetuple()) + date.microsecond/1.0E6)
 
 	def seekToTime(self, date):