diff --git a/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.0/metadata.xml b/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.0/metadata.xml
index 06bd9688d..39406e4ea 100644
--- a/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.0/metadata.xml
+++ b/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.0/metadata.xml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
         <DESCRIPTION>Variable content</DESCRIPTION>
         <CONSTRAINT>
           <TYPE>string</TYPE>
-          <REGEX error="Please enter a valid CFengine variable content"><![CDATA[ [^"&]*[^"&\\] ]]></REGEX>
+          <REGEX error="Please enter a valid CFengine variable content"><![CDATA[ .*[^\\] ]]></REGEX>
         </CONSTRAINT>
       </INPUT>
     </SECTION>
diff --git a/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.1/metadata.xml b/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.1/metadata.xml
index b4d13d6ca..05004d849 100644
--- a/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.1/metadata.xml
+++ b/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.1/metadata.xml
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
         <DESCRIPTION>Variable content</DESCRIPTION>
         <CONSTRAINT>
           <TYPE>string</TYPE>
-          <REGEX error="Please enter a valid CFengine variable content"><![CDATA[ [^"&]*[^"&\\] ]]></REGEX>
+          <REGEX error="Please enter a valid CFengine variable content"><![CDATA[ .*[^\\] ]]></REGEX>
         </CONSTRAINT>
       </INPUT>
     </SECTION>
diff --git a/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.2/metadata.xml b/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.2/metadata.xml
index fcb1c9d53..054393f15 100644
--- a/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.2/metadata.xml
+++ b/techniques/systemSettings/misc/genericVariableDefinition/1.2/metadata.xml
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
         <DESCRIPTION>Variable content</DESCRIPTION>
         <CONSTRAINT>
           <TYPE>string</TYPE>
-          <REGEX error="Please enter a valid CFengine variable content"><![CDATA[ [^"]*[^"\\] ]]></REGEX>
+          <REGEX error="Please enter a valid CFengine variable content"><![CDATA[ .*[^\\] ]]></REGEX>
           <MAYBEEMPTY>true</MAYBEEMPTY>
         </CONSTRAINT>
       </INPUT>