diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/userdetails/hierarchicalroles/RoleHierarchyImpl.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/userdetails/hierarchicalroles/RoleHierarchyImpl.java
index 7b6d68e2cd..76782d66c0 100755
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/userdetails/hierarchicalroles/RoleHierarchyImpl.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/userdetails/hierarchicalroles/RoleHierarchyImpl.java
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ public class RoleHierarchyImpl implements RoleHierarchy {
      * references a set of the reachable lower roles.
      */
     private void buildRolesReachableInOneStepMap() {
-        String parsingRegex = "(\\s*(\\w+)\\s*\\>\\s*(\\w+))";
+        String parsingRegex = "(\\s*([^\\s>]+)\\s*\\>\\s*([^\\s>]+))";
         Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(parsingRegex);
 
         Matcher roleHierarchyMatcher = pattern.matcher(roleHierarchyStringRepresentation);