diff --git a/vlib/regex/regex.v b/vlib/regex/regex.v
index ea939d2d29..2d0d2d7400 100644
--- a/vlib/regex/regex.v
+++ b/vlib/regex/regex.v
@@ -2516,8 +2516,13 @@ pub fn (mut re RE) match_base(in_txt &u8, in_txt_len int) (int, int) {
 			// println("ist_quant_n no_match_found")
 			result = regex.no_match_found
 			m_state = .stop
+
+			// stop already started matching outside a capturing group
+			if re.state_list.len > 0 && re.state_list.last().group_index == -1
+				&& re.state_list.last().last_dot_pc > 0 {
+				return regex.no_match_found, 0
+			}
 			continue
-			// return no_match_found, 0
 		}
 		// ist_quant_p => quantifier positive test on token
 		else if m_state == .ist_quant_p {
diff --git a/vlib/regex/regex_complex_test.v b/vlib/regex/regex_complex_test.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..22edd0cf9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/regex/regex_complex_test.v
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import regex
+
+fn test_complex_matching() {
+	tmp_text := r"[export:'something']
+const (
+some_const   = [1114111, 127, 2047, 65535, 1114111]!
+
+)
+
+[export:'something_empty']
+const (
+empty_const   = ()
+)
+"
+	query := r'\[export:\S+\]\sconst\s\(\s+\S+\s{3}=\s\('
+	mut re := regex.regex_opt(query) or { panic(err) }
+	mut a := re.find_all(tmp_text)
+	assert a == [86, 138]
+}