diff --git a/libs/plugins/modifier.escape.php b/libs/plugins/modifier.escape.php
index c95d1d7f..1882c1a6 100644
--- a/libs/plugins/modifier.escape.php
+++ b/libs/plugins/modifier.escape.php
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ function smarty_modifier_escape($string, $esc_type = 'html')
 
 		case 'hex':
 			// escape every character into hex
-			return = '';
+			$return = '';
 			for ($x=0; $x < strlen($string); $x++) {
 				$return .= '%' . bin2hex($string[$x]);
 			}
 			return $return;
             
 		case 'hexentity':
-			return = '';
+			$return = '';
 			for ($x=0; $x < strlen($string); $x++) {
 				$return .= '&#x' . bin2hex($string[$x]) . ';';
 			}
diff --git a/plugins/modifier.escape.php b/plugins/modifier.escape.php
index c95d1d7f..1882c1a6 100644
--- a/plugins/modifier.escape.php
+++ b/plugins/modifier.escape.php
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ function smarty_modifier_escape($string, $esc_type = 'html')
 
 		case 'hex':
 			// escape every character into hex
-			return = '';
+			$return = '';
 			for ($x=0; $x < strlen($string); $x++) {
 				$return .= '%' . bin2hex($string[$x]);
 			}
 			return $return;
             
 		case 'hexentity':
-			return = '';
+			$return = '';
 			for ($x=0; $x < strlen($string); $x++) {
 				$return .= '&#x' . bin2hex($string[$x]) . ';';
 			}