diff --git a/dbt/adapters/athena/connections.py b/dbt/adapters/athena/connections.py
index 0968eafa..47463cdc 100644
--- a/dbt/adapters/athena/connections.py
+++ b/dbt/adapters/athena/connections.py
@@ -214,9 +214,7 @@ def format(
             raise ProgrammingError("Query is none or empty.")
         operation = operation.strip()
 
-        if operation.upper().startswith("SELECT") or operation.upper().startswith(
-            "WITH"
-        ):
+        if operation.upper().startswith(("SELECT", "WITH", "INSERT")):
             escaper = _escape_presto
         else:
             # Fixes ParseException that comes with newer version of PyAthena