diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/ConfHandler.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/ConfHandler.py
index 5759cb20ed..f7d0cf74ab 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/ConfHandler.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/ConfHandler.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ from bb.parse import ParseError, resolve_file, ast, logger, handle
 __config_regexp__  = re.compile( r"""
     ^
     (?P<exp>export\s*)?
-    (?P<var>[a-zA-Z0-9\-~_+.${}/]+?)
+    (?P<var>[a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.${}/~]+?)
     (\[(?P<flag>[a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.]+)\])?
 
     \s* (
@@ -56,9 +56,9 @@ __config_regexp__  = re.compile( r"""
     """, re.X)
 __include_regexp__ = re.compile( r"include\s+(.+)" )
 __require_regexp__ = re.compile( r"require\s+(.+)" )
-__export_regexp__ = re.compile( r"export\s+([a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.${}/]+)$" )
-__unset_regexp__ = re.compile( r"unset\s+([a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.${}/]+)$" )
-__unset_flag_regexp__ = re.compile( r"unset\s+([a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.${}/]+)\[([a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.${}/]+)\]$" )
+__export_regexp__ = re.compile( r"export\s+([a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.${}/~]+)$" )
+__unset_regexp__ = re.compile( r"unset\s+([a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.${}/~]+)$" )
+__unset_flag_regexp__ = re.compile( r"unset\s+([a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.${}/~]+)\[([a-zA-Z0-9\-_+.]+)\]$" )
 
 def init(data):
     topdir = data.getVar('TOPDIR', False)