diff --git "a/test/fuzz/fuzz-unit-file/dm-back\\x2dslash.swap" b/test/fuzz/fuzz-unit-file/dm-backslash.swap
similarity index 100%
rename from "test/fuzz/fuzz-unit-file/dm-back\\x2dslash.swap"
rename to test/fuzz/fuzz-unit-file/dm-backslash.swap
diff --git a/units/meson.build b/units/meson.build
index d61138bf7b2..ab7989b4b9d 100644
--- a/units/meson.build
+++ b/units/meson.build
@@ -150,7 +150,10 @@ units = [
           'symlinks' : ['sockets.target.wants/']
         },
         { 'file' : 'systemd-mute-console@.service' },
-        { 'file' : 'system-systemd\\x2dmute\\x2dconsole.slice' },
+        {
+          'file' : 'system-systemd-mute-console.slice',
+          'name' : 'system-systemd\\x2dmute\\x2dconsole.slice',
+        },
         { 'file' : 'network-online.target' },
         { 'file' : 'network-pre.target' },
         { 'file' : 'network.target' },
@@ -242,11 +245,13 @@ units = [
         { 'file' : 'syslog.socket' },
         { 'file' : 'system-install.target' },
         {
-          'file' : 'system-systemd\\x2dcryptsetup.slice',
+          'file' : 'system-systemd-cryptsetup.slice',
+          'name' : 'system-systemd\\x2dcryptsetup.slice',
           'conditions' : ['HAVE_LIBCRYPTSETUP'],
         },
         {
-          'file' : 'system-systemd\\x2dveritysetup.slice',
+          'file' : 'system-systemd-veritysetup.slice',
+          'name' : 'system-systemd\\x2dveritysetup.slice',
           'conditions' : ['HAVE_LIBCRYPTSETUP'],
         },
         { 'file' : 'system-update-cleanup.service' },
@@ -1108,6 +1113,9 @@ foreach unit : units
                 needs_jinja = false
                 name = source
         endif
+        # Unit names that contain characters which are awkward in source file names (e.g. the
+        # backslash in \x2d escapes) are stored under a sanitized file name and renamed on install.
+        name = unit.get('name', name)
         source = files(source)
 
         install = true
@@ -1133,6 +1141,7 @@ foreach unit : units
                 endif
         elif install
                 install_data(source,
+                             rename : name,
                              install_dir : systemunitdir,
                              install_tag : unit.get('install_tag', ''))
         endif
diff --git "a/units/system-systemd\\x2dcryptsetup.slice" b/units/system-systemd-cryptsetup.slice
similarity index 100%
rename from "units/system-systemd\\x2dcryptsetup.slice"
rename to units/system-systemd-cryptsetup.slice
diff --git "a/units/system-systemd\\x2dmute\\x2dconsole.slice" b/units/system-systemd-mute-console.slice
similarity index 100%
rename from "units/system-systemd\\x2dmute\\x2dconsole.slice"
rename to units/system-systemd-mute-console.slice
diff --git "a/units/system-systemd\\x2dveritysetup.slice" b/units/system-systemd-veritysetup.slice
similarity index 100%
rename from "units/system-systemd\\x2dveritysetup.slice"
rename to units/system-systemd-veritysetup.slice