diff --git a/hwdb.d/parse_hwdb.py b/hwdb.d/parse_hwdb.py
index 025133416f..09751634a4 100755
--- a/hwdb.d/parse_hwdb.py
+++ b/hwdb.d/parse_hwdb.py
@@ -201,8 +201,9 @@ def check_matches(groups):
             except ParseBaseException as e:
                 error('Pattern {!r} is invalid: {}', rest, e)
                 continue
-            if rest[-1] not in '*:':
-                error('pattern {} does not end with "*" or ":"', match)
+
+        if not rest.endswith(':*'):
+            error("pattern {!r} does not end with ':*'", match)
 
     matches.sort()
     prev = None