diff --git a/vcf/parser.py b/vcf/parser.py
index 1ceab24..f57c77d 100644
--- a/vcf/parser.py
+++ b/vcf/parser.py
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def __init__(self):
             Type=(?P<type>.+),
             Description="(?P<desc>.*)"
             >''', re.VERBOSE)
-        self.meta_pattern = re.compile(r'''##(?P<key>.+)=(?P<val>.+)''')
+        self.meta_pattern = re.compile(r'''##(?P<key>.+?)=(?P<val>.+)''')
 
     def vcf_field_count(self, num_str):
         if num_str == '.':