diff --git a/test/falco_test.py b/test/falco_test.py
index 689a7685..5c084d10 100644
--- a/test/falco_test.py
+++ b/test/falco_test.py
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ class FalcoTest(Test):
         triggered_rules = match.group(1)
 
         for rule, count in self.detect_counts.iteritems():
-            expected = '\s{}: (\d+)'.format(rule)
+            expected = '\s{}: (\d+)'.format(re.sub(r'([$\.*+?()[\]{}|^])', r'\\\1', rule))
             match = re.search(expected, triggered_rules)
 
             if match is None:
diff --git a/test/falco_tests.yaml b/test/falco_tests.yaml
index aecc1a9a..7f4ce784 100644
--- a/test/falco_tests.yaml
+++ b/test/falco_tests.yaml
@@ -86,6 +86,15 @@ trace_files: !mux
       - rules/rule_names_with_spaces.yaml
     trace_file: trace_files/cat_write.scap
 
+  rule_names_with_regex_chars:
+    detect: True
+    detect_level: WARNING
+    rules_file:
+      - rules/rule_names_with_regex_chars.yaml
+    detect_counts:
+      - 'Open From Cat ($\.*+?()[]{}|^)': 8
+    trace_file: trace_files/cat_write.scap
+
   multiple_rules_first_empty:
     detect: True
     detect_level: WARNING
@@ -447,13 +456,13 @@ trace_files: !mux
       - open_from_cat
     trace_file: trace_files/cat_write.scap
 
-  disabled_rules_using_regex:
+  disabled_rules_using_substring:
     detect: False
     rules_file:
       - rules/empty_rules.yaml
       - rules/single_rule.yaml
     disabled_rules:
-      - "open.*"
+      - "open_from"
     trace_file: trace_files/cat_write.scap
 
   disabled_rules_using_enabled_flag:
diff --git a/test/rules/rule_names_with_regex_chars.yaml b/test/rules/rule_names_with_regex_chars.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..063fed5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/rules/rule_names_with_regex_chars.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2016-2018 Draios Inc dba Sysdig.
+#
+# This file is part of falco.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+- macro: is_cat
+  condition: proc.name=cat
+
+- rule: Open From Cat ($\.*+?()[]{}|^)
+  desc: A process named cat does an open
+  condition: evt.type=open and is_cat
+  output: "An open was seen (command=%proc.cmdline)"
+  priority: WARNING
\ No newline at end of file