diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 1660ed9..fe83c65 100644
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -44,10 +44,12 @@ __SHLVL=0
 
 # lowdown wrapper function
 __lowdown() {
-	lowdown --html-no-owasp --html-no-skiphtml --html-no-escapehtml "$@" | sed -E '
-		s/&#821[67];/\'/g
-		s/–/--/g
-		s/&#822[01];/\"/g'
+	lowdown --html-no-owasp --html-no-skiphtml --html-no-escapehtml --html-no-num-ent "$@" | \
+		sed -E '
+		s/&[lr]squo;/\'/g
+		s/–/--/g
+		s/&[lr]dquo;/\"/g
+		'
 }
 
 # process a pure markdown file
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ escape() {
 			*\<*) __ESC_STR="${__ESC_STR%<*}&lt;${__ESC_STR##*<}" ;;
 			*\>*) __ESC_STR="${__ESC_STR%>*}&gt;${__ESC_STR##*>}" ;;
 			*\"*) __ESC_STR="${__ESC_STR%\"*}&quot;${__ESC_STR##*\"}" ;;
-			*\'*) __ESC_STR="${__ESC_STR%\'*}&#39${__ESC_STR##*\'}" ;;
+			*\'*) __ESC_STR="${__ESC_STR%\'*}&apos;${__ESC_STR##*\'}" ;;
 			*) break;
 		esac
 	done
@@ -132,7 +134,7 @@ escape() {
 # good for large inputs with lots of chars to escape
 # this means mostly full files, entire posts for putting in content for a feed
 escapepipe() {
-	sed -e 's/&/\&amp;/g' -e 's/</\&lt;/g' -e 's/>/\&gt;/g' -e 's/"/\&quot;/g' -e "s/'/\\&#39/g"
+	sed -e 's/&/\&amp;/g' -e 's/</\&lt;/g' -e 's/>/\&gt;/g' -e 's/"/\&quot;/g' -e "s/'/\\&apos;/g"
 }
 
 # build folder structure