diff --git a/script/pgsqlms b/script/pgsqlms
index 63feb4e..2480fc3 100755
--- a/script/pgsqlms
+++ b/script/pgsqlms
@@ -1345,7 +1345,7 @@ sub pgsql_validate_all {
         }
 
         $guc = qx{ $POSTGRES -C primary_conninfo -D "$pgdata" $start_opts};
-        unless ($guc =~ /['\s]application_name=$nodename['\s]/) {
+        unless ($guc =~ /\bapplication_name=$nodename\b/) {
             ocf_exit_reason(
                 q{Parameter "primary_conninfo" MUST contain 'application_name=%s'. }.
                 q{It is currently set to '%s'}, $nodename, $guc );