diff --git a/lisp/textmodes/tex-mode.el b/lisp/textmodes/tex-mode.el
index 6244189f64a..5fdf9e3b250 100644
--- a/lisp/textmodes/tex-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/textmodes/tex-mode.el
@@ -3410,6 +3410,8 @@ There might be text before point."
     (not (or
           ;; Don't compose \alpha@foo.
           (eq after-syntax ?_)
+          ;; Don't compose inside verbatim blocks!
+          (nth 8 (syntax-ppss))
           ;; The \alpha in \alpha2 may be composed but of course \alphax may not.
           (and (eq after-syntax ?w)
                (or (< after-char ?0)