diff --git a/qutebrowser/completion/completiondelegate.py b/qutebrowser/completion/completiondelegate.py
index 7defbacd3..ad992f794 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/completion/completiondelegate.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/completion/completiondelegate.py
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ class CompletionItemDelegate(QStyledItemDelegate):
             columns_to_filter = index.model().srcmodel.columns_to_filter
             if index.column() in columns_to_filter and pattern:
                 repl = r'<span class="highlight">\g<0></span>'
-                text = re.sub(re.escape(pattern).replace(r'\ ', r'|'),
+                text = re.sub(re.escape(pattern).replace(r'\ ', r'.*'),
                               repl, self._opt.text, flags=re.IGNORECASE)
                 self._doc.setHtml(text)
             else: