diff --git a/src/tikzplotlib/_line2d.py b/src/tikzplotlib/_line2d.py
index b431b869..c623515d 100644
--- a/src/tikzplotlib/_line2d.py
+++ b/src/tikzplotlib/_line2d.py
@@ -259,11 +259,15 @@ def _table(obj, data):  # noqa: C901
         xformat = ff
         col_sep = " "
 
-    if data["table_row_sep"] != "\n":
+    table_row_sep = data["table_row_sep"]
+    if table_row_sep.strip() == r"\\" and data["externalize tables"]:
+        # work around ! Package pgfplots Error: Sorry, the choice 'row sep=crcr' is currently only available for inline tables, not for external files.
+        table_row_sep = "\n"
+
+    if table_row_sep != "\n":
         # don't want the \n in the table definition, just in the data (below)
-        opts.append("row sep=" + data["table_row_sep"].strip())
+        opts.append("row sep=" + table_row_sep.strip())
 
-    table_row_sep = data["table_row_sep"]
     ydata[ydata_mask] = np.nan
     if np.any(ydata_mask) or ~np.all(np.isfinite(ydata)):
         # matplotlib jumps at masked or nan values, while PGFPlots by default
diff --git a/src/tikzplotlib/_path.py b/src/tikzplotlib/_path.py
index 11381d59..a1ccfd50 100644
--- a/src/tikzplotlib/_path.py
+++ b/src/tikzplotlib/_path.py
@@ -127,6 +127,17 @@ def draw_pathcollection(data, obj):
 
     is_filled = False
 
+    table_row_sep = data["table_row_sep"]
+    if table_row_sep.strip() == r"\\" and data["externalize tables"]:
+        # work around ! Package pgfplots Error: Sorry, the choice 'row sep=crcr' is currently only available for inline tables, not for external files.
+        table_row_sep = "\n"
+
+    if table_row_sep != "\n":
+        # don't want the \n in the table definition, just in the data (below)
+        table_options.append("row sep=" + table_row_sep.strip())
+
+
+
     if obj.get_array() is not None:
         dd_strings = np.column_stack([dd_strings, obj.get_array()])
         labels.append("colordata")
@@ -302,9 +313,9 @@ def draw_pathcollection(data, obj):
             content.append("table{")
 
         plot_table = []
-        plot_table.append("  ".join(labels) + "\n")
+        plot_table.append("  ".join(labels) + table_row_sep)
         for row in dd_strings:
-            plot_table.append(" ".join(row) + "\n")
+            plot_table.append(" ".join(row) + table_row_sep)
 
         if data["externalize tables"]:
             filepath, rel_filepath = _files.new_filepath(data, "table", ".dat")