diff --git a/source/beamerx.sty b/source/beamerx.sty
index ac7e90d87023ace82804acb56d7585db5f5db170..f926d71f152623d8ac7de857c255116cf8580ee2 100644
--- a/source/beamerx.sty
+++ b/source/beamerx.sty
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@
 %---------- Maketitle
 \AtBeginDocument{
     \renewcommand\maketitle{
+        \ifdefined\shorthandoff
+            \shorthandoff{;!?:}
+        \fi
         {
             \setlength{\unitlength}{0.1\paperheight}
             \setbeamertemplate{background canvas}{%
@@ -206,6 +209,10 @@
                 \end{flushright}
             \end{frame}
         }
+        \ifdefined\shorthandon
+            \shorthandon{;!?:}
+        \fi
     }
     \setbeamertemplate{background canvas}{}
 }
+\endinput