diff --git a/libselinux/src/label_file.c b/libselinux/src/label_file.c
index 71b085ae..9d116eb7 100644
--- a/libselinux/src/label_file.c
+++ b/libselinux/src/label_file.c
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ static int compile_regex(struct saved_data *data, struct spec *spec, const char
 	*cp = '\0';
 
 	/* Compile the regular expression. */
-	spec->regex = pcre_compile(anchored_regex, 0, &tmperrbuf, &erroff, NULL);
+	spec->regex = pcre_compile(anchored_regex, PCRE_DOTALL, &tmperrbuf, &erroff, NULL);
 	free(anchored_regex);
 	if (!spec->regex) {
 		if (errbuf)