diff --git a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
index b63df5f1..d01064b2 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ logSys = getLogger(__name__)
 class JailReader(ConfigReader):
 	
 	# regex, to extract list of options:
-	optionCRE = re.compile("^((?:\w|-|_|\.)+)(?:\[(.*)\])?$")
+	optionCRE = re.compile(r"^([\w\-_\.]+)(?:\[(.*)\])?\s*$", re.DOTALL)
 	# regex, to iterate over single option in option list, syntax:
 	# `action = act[p1="...", p2='...', p3=...]`, where the p3=... not contains `,` or ']'
 	# since v0.10 separator extended with `]\s*[` for support of multiple option groups, syntax 
 	# `action = act[p1=...][p2=...]`
 	optionExtractRE = re.compile(
-		r'([\w\-_\.]+)=(?:"([^"]*)"|\'([^\']*)\'|([^,\]]*))(?:,|\]\s*\[|$)')
+		r'([\w\-_\.]+)=(?:"([^"]*)"|\'([^\']*)\'|([^,\]]*))(?:,|\]\s*\[|$)', re.DOTALL)
 	
 	def __init__(self, name, force_enable=False, **kwargs):
 		ConfigReader.__init__(self, **kwargs)