diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6a8f3f7..d0d639f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+- Issue where ?morse/?demorse outputs beginning with `-` rendered as a bulleted list (#484).
 
 ## [2.9.2] - 2023-12-15
 ### Added
diff --git a/exts/morse.py b/exts/morse.py
index 641912b..b98f123 100644
--- a/exts/morse.py
+++ b/exts/morse.py
@@ -25,13 +25,14 @@ def __init__(self, bot: commands.Bot):
     @commands.command(name="morse", aliases=["cw"], category=cmn.Cats.CODES)
     async def _morse(self, ctx: commands.Context, *, msg: str):
         """Converts ASCII to international morse code."""
-        result = ""
+        result = "`"
         for char in msg.upper():
             try:
                 result += self.morse[char]
             except KeyError:
                 result += "<?>"
             result += " "
+        result += "`"
         embed = cmn.embed_factory(ctx)
         embed.title = f"Morse Code for {msg}"
         embed.description = "**" + result + "**"
@@ -52,6 +53,9 @@ async def _unmorse(self, ctx: commands.Context, *, msg: str):
                 except KeyError:
                     result += "<?>"
             result += " "
+        if len(result) > 0 and result[0] == "-":
+            # escape markdown bullet
+            result = "\\" + result
         embed = cmn.embed_factory(ctx)
         embed.title = f"ASCII for {msg0}"
         embed.description = result