diff --git a/src/octodns_netbox_dns/__init__.py b/src/octodns_netbox_dns/__init__.py
index 292df47..57b170b 100644
--- a/src/octodns_netbox_dns/__init__.py
+++ b/src/octodns_netbox_dns/__init__.py
@@ -90,21 +90,14 @@ class NetBoxDNSProvider(octodns.provider.base.BaseProvider):
 
         return absolute_value
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _fix_semicolon(value: str, escape: bool) -> str:
-        """escape and un-escape semicolons in record values for netbox/octodns
-
-        @param value: the record value
-        @param escape: if set to true, all semicolons get escaped with a backslash.
-        if false it un-escapes all semicolons.
-
-        @return: the modified record value
-        """
-        if escape:
-            fixed = value.replace(";", "\\;")
-        else:
-            fixed = value.replace("\\;", ";")
+    def _escape_semicolon(self, value: str) -> str:
+        fixed = value.replace(";", "\\;")
+        self.log.debug(f"in='{value}', fixed='{fixed}'")
+        return fixed
 
+    def _unescape_semicolon(self, value: str) -> str:
+        fixed = value.replace("\\\\", "\\").replace("\\;", ";")
+        self.log.debug(f"in='{value}', fixed='{fixed}'")
         return fixed
 
     def _get_nb_view(self, view: str | None | Literal[False]) -> dict[str, int | str]:
@@ -212,7 +205,7 @@ class NetBoxDNSProvider(octodns.provider.base.BaseProvider):
                 }
 
             case "SPF" | "TXT":
-                value = self._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=True)
+                value = self._escape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
             case "SRV":
                 value = {
@@ -370,7 +363,7 @@ class NetBoxDNSProvider(octodns.provider.base.BaseProvider):
                                 name=rcd_name,
                                 type=change.new._type,
                                 ttl=change.new.ttl,
-                                value=self._fix_semicolon(record, escape=False),
+                                value=self._unescape_semicolon(record),
                                 disable_ptr=self.disable_ptr,
                             )
                         )
@@ -430,7 +423,7 @@ class NetBoxDNSProvider(octodns.provider.base.BaseProvider):
                             name=rcd_name,
                             type=change.new._type,
                             ttl=change.new.ttl,
-                            value=self._fix_semicolon(record, escape=False),
+                            value=self._unescape_semicolon(record),
                             disable_ptr=self.disable_ptr,
                         )
                         self.log.debug(f"ADD {nb_record.type} {nb_record.name} {nb_record.value}")
diff --git a/tests/test_escaple_semicolon.py b/tests/test_escaple_semicolon.py
index a494529..628ba2b 100644
--- a/tests/test_escaple_semicolon.py
+++ b/tests/test_escaple_semicolon.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
 def test_escape1():
     nbdns = NetBoxDNSProvider(**DEFAULT_CONFIG)
     rcd_value = r"v=TLSRPTv1; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
-    value = nbdns._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=True)
+    value = nbdns._escape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
     assert value == r"v=TLSRPTv1\; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def test_escape1():
 def test_escape2():
     nbdns = NetBoxDNSProvider(**DEFAULT_CONFIG)
     rcd_value = r"v=TLSRPTv1\; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
-    value = nbdns._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=True)
+    value = nbdns._escape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
     assert value == r"v=TLSRPTv1\\; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def test_escape2():
 def test_escape3():
     nbdns = NetBoxDNSProvider(**DEFAULT_CONFIG)
     rcd_value = r"t=y\;o=~\;"
-    value = nbdns._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=True)
+    value = nbdns._escape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
     assert value == r"t=y\\;o=~\\;"
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def test_escape3():
 def test_escape4():
     nbdns = NetBoxDNSProvider(**DEFAULT_CONFIG)
     rcd_value = r"t=y;o=~;"
-    value = nbdns._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=True)
+    value = nbdns._escape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
     assert value == r"t=y\;o=~\;"
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def test_escape4():
 def test_unescape1():
     nbdns = NetBoxDNSProvider(**DEFAULT_CONFIG)
     rcd_value = r"v=TLSRPTv1\; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
-    value = nbdns._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=False)
+    value = nbdns._unescape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
     assert value == r"v=TLSRPTv1; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
 
@@ -54,22 +54,22 @@ def test_unescape1():
 def test_unescape2():
     nbdns = NetBoxDNSProvider(**DEFAULT_CONFIG)
     rcd_value = r"v=TLSRPTv1\\; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
-    value = nbdns._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=False)
+    value = nbdns._unescape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
-    assert value == r"v=TLSRPTv1\; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
+    assert value == r"v=TLSRPTv1; rua=mailto:tlsrpt@example.com"
 
 
 def test_unescape3():
     nbdns = NetBoxDNSProvider(**DEFAULT_CONFIG)
     rcd_value = r"t=y\\;o=~\;"
-    value = nbdns._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=False)
+    value = nbdns._unescape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
-    assert value == r"t=y\;o=~;"
+    assert value == r"t=y;o=~;"
 
 
 def test_unescape4():
     nbdns = NetBoxDNSProvider(**DEFAULT_CONFIG)
     rcd_value = r"t=y;o=~;"
-    value = nbdns._fix_semicolon(rcd_value, escape=False)
+    value = nbdns._unescape_semicolon(rcd_value)
 
     assert value == r"t=y;o=~;"