diff --git a/fail2ban/client/fail2banregex.py b/fail2ban/client/fail2banregex.py
index 4ab8a8a3..e0caae70 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/fail2banregex.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/fail2banregex.py
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ class Fail2banRegex(object):
 		fltFile = None
 		fltOpt = {}
 		if regextype == 'fail':
-			if re.search(r'^/{0,3}[\w/_\-.]+(?:\[.*\])?$', value):
+			if re.search(r'^(?ms)/{0,3}[\w/_\-.]+(?:\[.*\])?$', value):
 				try:
 					fltName, fltOpt = extractOptions(value)
 					if "." in fltName[~5:]: