diff --git a/intelmq/bots/experts/modify/expert.py b/intelmq/bots/experts/modify/expert.py
index 98373bec91..8cfa6196d3 100644
--- a/intelmq/bots/experts/modify/expert.py
+++ b/intelmq/bots/experts/modify/expert.py
@@ -71,18 +71,10 @@ def matches(self, identifier, event, condition):
             if name not in event:
                 return None
             if is_re_pattern(rule):
-                if isinstance(event[name], (int, float)):
                     match = rule.search(str(event[name]))
                     if match is None:
                         return None
-                    else:
-                        matches[name] = match
-                else:
-                    match = rule.search(event[name])
-                    if match is None:
-                        return None
-                    else:
-                        matches[name] = match
+                    matches[name] = match
             else:  # rule is boolean, int, float, etc
                 if event[name] != rule:
                     return None
diff --git a/intelmq/tests/bots/experts/modify/test_expert.py b/intelmq/tests/bots/experts/modify/test_expert.py
index 5c9111f82d..6fbef3d9d7 100644
--- a/intelmq/tests/bots/experts/modify/test_expert.py
+++ b/intelmq/tests/bots/experts/modify/test_expert.py
@@ -144,6 +144,22 @@ def test_maximum_matches(self):
         del out['classification.identifier']
         self.assertMessageEqual(0, out)
 
+def test_modify_regex_without_parentheses_matches_same_as_with_parentheses():
+    import re
+    from intelmq.bots.experts.modify.expert import ModifyExpertBot
+    from intelmq.lib.message import Event
+
+    bot = ModifyExpertBot.__new__(ModifyExpertBot)
+
+    event = Event()
+    event.add("extra.test", "12.3")
+
+    cond_no_parens = {"extra.test": re.compile(r"^12\.[34]")}
+    cond_with_parens = {"extra.test": re.compile(r"^(12\.[34])")}
+
+    assert bot.matches("no-parens", event, cond_no_parens) is not None
+    assert bot.matches("with-parens", event, cond_with_parens) is not None
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':  # pragma: no cover
     unittest.main()