diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8b7e5d9..cfa2763 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ To parse a .ini file async:
 
 To parse a .ini file sync:
 	var iniparser = require('iniparser');
-	var config = iniparser.parseSync('./config.ini');	
+	var config = iniparser.parseSync('./config.ini');
 
 ## Installation
 npm:
 	npm install iniparser
-## License 
+## License
 
 (The MIT License)
 
diff --git a/lib/node-iniparser.js b/lib/node-iniparser.js
index 65a1a9a..18ff56e 100644
--- a/lib/node-iniparser.js
+++ b/lib/node-iniparser.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ var fs = require('fs');
  */
 var regex = {
 	section: /^\s*\[\s*([^\]]*)\s*\]\s*$/,
-	param: /^\s*(\w+)\s*=\s*(.*)\s*$/,
+	param: /^\s*([\w\.\-\_]+)\s*=\s*(.*)\s*$/,
 	comment: /^\s*;.*$/
 };
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ module.exports.parse = function(file, callback){
 	if(!callback){
 		return;
 	}
-	fs.readFile(file, 'utf-8', function(err, data){
+	fs.readFile(file, 'utf8', function(err, data){
 		if(err){
 			callback(err);
 		}else{
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ module.exports.parse = function(file, callback){
 };
 
 module.exports.parseSync = function(file){
-	return parse(fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf-8'));
+	return parse(fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf8'));
 };
 
 function parse(data){
diff --git a/test/files/test.ini b/test/files/test.ini
index b371458..68f6456 100644
--- a/test/files/test.ini
+++ b/test/files/test.ini
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 foo=bar
 [worlds]
 earth=awesome
+a.b=c
 
 [section2]
-bar=foo
\ No newline at end of file
+bar=foo