diff --git a/nselib/ipOps.lua b/nselib/ipOps.lua
index 9e5f8ff02..e165b34a5 100644
--- a/nselib/ipOps.lua
+++ b/nselib/ipOps.lua
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ get_ips_from_range = function( range )
   if range:match( "/" ) then
     first, prefix = range:match( "([%x%d:%.]+)/(%d+)" )
   elseif range:match( "-" ) then
-    first, last = range:match( "([%x%d:%.]+)%s*%.%s*([%x%d:%.]+)" )
+    first, last = range:match( "([%x%d:%.]+)%s*%-%s*([%x%d:%.]+)" )
   end
 
   local err = {}