diff --git a/dist/js/bootstrap-multiselect.js b/dist/js/bootstrap-multiselect.js
index 9a50a18a..57f8e65e 100644
--- a/dist/js/bootstrap-multiselect.js
+++ b/dist/js/bootstrap-multiselect.js
@@ -411,6 +411,7 @@
             enableClickableOptGroups: false,
             enableCollapsibleOptGroups: false,
             filterPlaceholder: 'Search',
+            enableRegexFiltering: false,
             // possible options: 'text', 'value', 'both'
             filterBehavior: 'text',
             includeFilterClearBtn: true,
@@ -1088,6 +1089,14 @@
                                             showElement = true;
                                         }
 
+                                        //regex support
+                                        if(this.options.enableRegexFiltering){
+                                          var reg = new RegExp(this.query);
+                                          if(reg.test(filterCandidate.trim())){
+                                            showElement = true;
+                                          }
+                                        }
+
                                         // Toggle current element (group or group item) according to showElement boolean.
                                         $(element).toggle(showElement)
                                             .toggleClass('multiselect-filter-hidden', !showElement);