diff --git a/usr.bin/xargs/xargs.c b/usr.bin/xargs/xargs.c
index e69314e58fa3..2825a26f4dfa 100644
--- a/usr.bin/xargs/xargs.c
+++ b/usr.bin/xargs/xargs.c
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ prompt(void)
 	(void)fprintf(stderr, "?...");
 	(void)fflush(stderr);
 	if ((response = fgetln(ttyfp, &rsize)) == NULL ||
-	    regcomp(&cre, nl_langinfo(YESEXPR), REG_BASIC) != 0) {
+	    regcomp(&cre, nl_langinfo(YESEXPR), REG_EXTENDED) != 0) {
 		(void)fclose(ttyfp);
 		return (0);
 	}