diff --git a/snazzer b/snazzer
index c59cfa5..ee3283d 100755
--- a/snazzer
+++ b/snazzer
@@ -76,10 +76,10 @@ glob2grep_file() {
     FILE=$1
     OUT=$(mktemp)
 
-    # check if every line starts with either / or *, if not it's a syntax error.
+    # check if every line starts with either / or *, if not, quit with a syntax error.
     while read -r line; do
-        if ! [[ "$line" =~ ^[/\*].* ]]; then
-            echo "SYNTAX ERROR: $1 contains lines that start with neither / nor *." >&2
+        if ! echo "$line" | grep '^[/*]' >/dev/null; then
+            echo "SYNTAX ERROR: $1 contains line $line that start with neither / nor *." >&2
             exit 12
         fi
     done < "$1"
diff --git a/snazzer-measure b/snazzer-measure
index 9dc0691..e88223d 100755
--- a/snazzer-measure
+++ b/snazzer-measure
@@ -173,10 +173,10 @@ glob2grep_file() {
     FILE=$1
     OUT=$(mktemp)
 
-    # check if every line starts with either / or *, if not it's a syntax error.
+    # check if every line starts with either / or *, if not, quit with a syntax error.
     while read -r line; do
-        if ! [[ "$line" =~ ^[/\*].* ]]; then
-            echo "SYNTAX ERROR: $1 contains lines that start with neither / nor *." >&2
+        if ! echo "$line" | grep '^[/*]' >/dev/null; then
+            echo "SYNTAX ERROR: $1 contains line $line that start with neither / nor *." >&2
             exit 12
         fi
     done < "$1"