diff --git a/lib/yaml/ypath.rb b/lib/yaml/ypath.rb
index 713c4de76e..81348ca043 100644
--- a/lib/yaml/ypath.rb
+++ b/lib/yaml/ypath.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ module YAML
             @segments = []
             @predicates = []
             @flags = nil
-            while str =~ /^\/?(\/|[^\/[]+)(?:\[([^\]]+)\])?/
+            while str =~ /^\/?(\/|[^\/\[]+)(?:\[([^\]]+)\])?/
                 @segments.push $1
                 @predicates.push $2
                 str = $'