diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/html.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/html.py
index b267a9e647..8d61a746fa 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/html.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/html.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def get_metadata(stream):
     
     # Title
     title = None
-    pat = re.compile(r'<!--.*?TITLE=(?P<q>[\'"])(.+)(?P=q).*?-->', re.DOTALL)
+    pat = re.compile(r'<!--.*?TITLE=(?P<q>[\'"])(.+?)(?P=q).*?-->', re.DOTALL)
     match = pat.search(src)
     if match:
         title = match.group(2)
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def get_metadata(stream):
         
     # Author
     author = None
-    pat = re.compile(r'<!--.*?AUTHOR=(?P<q>[\'"])(.+)(?P=q).*?-->', re.DOTALL)
+    pat = re.compile(r'<!--.*?AUTHOR=(?P<q>[\'"])(.+?)(?P=q).*?-->', re.DOTALL)
     match = pat.search(src)
     if match:
         author = match.group(2).replace(',', ';')
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def get_metadata(stream):
     mi = MetaInformation(title, [author] if author else None)
     
     # Publisher
-    pat = re.compile(r'<!--.*?PUBLISHER=(?P<q>[\'"])(.+)(?P=q).*?-->', re.DOTALL)
+    pat = re.compile(r'<!--.*?PUBLISHER=(?P<q>[\'"])(.+?)(?P=q).*?-->', re.DOTALL)
     match = pat.search(src)
     if match:
         mi.publisher = match.group(2)