diff --git a/lib/et-orbi/time.rb b/lib/et-orbi/time.rb
index cf531e9..285b808 100644
--- a/lib/et-orbi/time.rb
+++ b/lib/et-orbi/time.rb
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def to_i
 
     def strftime(format)
 
-      format = format.gsub(/%(\/?Z|:{0,2}z)/) { |f| strfz(f) }
+      format = format.gsub(/%%|%(\/?Z|:{0,2}z)/) { |f| f == '%%' ? f : strfz(f) }
 
       to_time.strftime(format)
     end
diff --git a/test/eo_time_test.rb b/test/eo_time_test.rb
index c9fc480..c986c37 100644
--- a/test/eo_time_test.rb
+++ b/test/eo_time_test.rb
@@ -431,6 +431,17 @@
         '1970-01-01 01:00:00 CET +0100 +01:00 +01:00:00')
     end
 
+    test 'preserves escaped timezone directives' do
+
+      ot = EtOrbi::EoTime.new(0, 'Asia/Kolkata')
+
+      assert(
+        ot.strftime('%%Z %%z %%:z %%::z %%/Z'),
+        '%Z %z %:z %::z %/Z')
+      assert ot.strftime('%%%Z'), '%IST'
+      assert ot.strftime('%%%%z'), '%%z'
+    end
+
     test 'accepts %/Z' do
 
       assert(