diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
index eddcf1ac8f..418643a1a6 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
@@ -146,8 +146,8 @@ def get_bb_vars(variables=None, target=None, postconfig=None):
     """Get values of multiple bitbake variables"""
     bbenv = get_bb_env(target, postconfig=postconfig)
 
-    var_re = re.compile(r'^(export )?(?P<var>[a-zA-Z]\w+)="(?P<value>.*)"$')
-    unset_re = re.compile(r'^unset (?P<var>[a-zA-Z]\w+)$')
+    var_re = re.compile(r'^(export )?(?P<var>\w+)="(?P<value>.*)"$')
+    unset_re = re.compile(r'^unset (?P<var>\w+)$')
     lastline = None
     values = {}
     for line in bbenv.splitlines():