diff --git a/repology/transformer.py b/repology/transformer.py
index 9e2321de0..0e7e645c8 100755
--- a/repology/transformer.py
+++ b/repology/transformer.py
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ def __init__(self, repoman, rulesdir=None, rulestext=None):
             # compile regexps
             for field in ['namepat', 'verpat', 'wwwpat']:
                 if field in rule:
-                    rule[field] = re.compile(rule[field], re.ASCII)
+                    # replace here handles multiline regexps
+                    rule[field] = re.compile(rule[field].replace('\n', ''), re.ASCII)
 
             rule['matches'] = 0
             rule['number'] = rulenum