diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/regexp/Jdk14RegexpMatcher.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/regexp/Jdk14RegexpMatcher.java
index a541dda9d..be14f0ff7 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/regexp/Jdk14RegexpMatcher.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/regexp/Jdk14RegexpMatcher.java
@@ -161,7 +161,8 @@ public class Jdk14RegexpMatcher implements RegexpMatcher {
 
     protected int getCompilerOptions(int options)
     {
-        int cOptions = 0;
+        // be strict about line separator
+        int cOptions = Pattern.UNIX_LINES;
 
         if (RegexpUtil.hasFlag(options, MATCH_CASE_INSENSITIVE)) {
             cOptions |= Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE;