diff --git a/etc/network.subr b/etc/network.subr
index 5c918cca745d..abbafa92a25d 100644
--- a/etc/network.subr
+++ b/etc/network.subr
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ ifalias_af_common_handler()
 		case $_c in
 		${_af})
 			case $_tmpargs in
-			${_af}\ *-*)
+			${_af}\ *[0-9a-fA-F]-*)
 				ifalias_af_common_handler $_if $_af $_action \
 				`ifalias_expand_addr $_af $_action ${_tmpargs#${_af}\ }`
 			;;
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@ ifalias_af_common_handler()
 	# Process the last component if any.
 	if [ -n "$_tmpargs}" ]; then
 		case $_tmpargs in
-		${_af}\ *-*)
+		${_af}\ *[0-9][a-f][A-F]-*)
 			ifalias_af_common_handler $_if $_af $_action \
 			`ifalias_expand_addr $_af $_action ${_tmpargs#${_af}\ }`
 		;;