diff --git a/pygeofilter/backends/opensearch/evaluate.py b/pygeofilter/backends/opensearch/evaluate.py
index ad4663b..40e0e46 100644
--- a/pygeofilter/backends/opensearch/evaluate.py
+++ b/pygeofilter/backends/opensearch/evaluate.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 
 from ... import ast, values
 from ..evaluator import Evaluator, handle
-from ..elasticsearch.util import like_to_wildcard
+from .util import like_to_wildcard
 
 VERSION_7_10_0 = Version("7.10.0")
 
diff --git a/pygeofilter/backends/opensearch/util.py b/pygeofilter/backends/opensearch/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32e4a57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pygeofilter/backends/opensearch/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# Project: pygeofilter <https://github.com/geopython/pygeofilter>
+# Authors: Fabian Schindler <fabian.schindler@eox.at>
+#
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Copyright (C) 2022 EOX IT Services GmbH
+#
+# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+# of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+# in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+# to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+# copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+# furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+#
+# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+# all copies of this Software or works derived from this Software.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+# AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+# OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+# THE SOFTWARE.
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+""" General utilities for the Elasticsearch backend.
+"""
+
+import re
+
+
+def like_to_wildcard(
+    value: str, wildcard: str, single_char: str, escape_char: str = "\\"
+) -> str:
+    """Adapts a "LIKE" pattern to create an elasticsearch "wildcard"
+    pattern.
+    """
+
+    x_wildcard = re.escape(wildcard)
+    x_single_char = re.escape(single_char)
+
+    if escape_char == "\\":
+        x_escape_char = "\\\\\\\\"
+    else:
+        x_escape_char = re.escape(escape_char)
+
+    if wildcard != "*":
+        value = re.sub(
+            f"(?<!{x_escape_char}){x_wildcard}",
+            "*",
+            value,
+        )
+
+    if single_char != "?":
+        value = re.sub(
+            f"(?<!{x_escape_char}){x_single_char}",
+            "?",
+            value,
+        )
+
+    return value