diff --git a/files/helpers/regex.py b/files/helpers/regex.py
index f79992460e..aee131d99e 100644
--- a/files/helpers/regex.py
+++ b/files/helpers/regex.py
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ NOT_IN_CODE_OR_LINKS = '(?!([^<]*<\/(code|pre|a)>|[^`\n]*`|(.|\n)*```))'
 
 valid_username_regex = re.compile("^[\w\-]{3,25}$", flags=re.A)
 
-mention_regex = re.compile('(?<!/)@([\w\-]{1,30})' + NOT_IN_CODE_OR_LINKS, flags=re.A)
-group_mention_regex = re.compile('(?<!/)!([\w\-]{3,25})' + NOT_IN_CODE_OR_LINKS, flags=re.A|re.I)
+mention_regex = re.compile('(?<![/\w])@([\w\-]{1,30})' + NOT_IN_CODE_OR_LINKS, flags=re.A)
+group_mention_regex = re.compile('(?<![/\w])!([\w\-]{3,25})' + NOT_IN_CODE_OR_LINKS, flags=re.A|re.I)
 
 everyone_regex = re.compile('(^|\s|>)!(everyone)' + NOT_IN_CODE_OR_LINKS, flags=re.A)