diff --git a/nimsuggest/tester.nim b/nimsuggest/tester.nim
index 9b9488348c..b69569288d 100644
--- a/nimsuggest/tester.nim
+++ b/nimsuggest/tester.nim
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # When debugging, to run a single test, use for e.g.:
 # `nim r nimsuggest/tester.nim nimsuggest/tests/tsug_accquote.nim`
 
-import os, osproc, strutils, streams, re, sexp, net
+import os, osproc, strutils, streams, sexp, net
 from sequtils import toSeq
 
 type
@@ -148,8 +148,28 @@ proc runCmd(cmd, dest: string): bool =
     quit "unknown command: " & cmd
 
 proc smartCompare(pattern, x: string): bool =
-  if pattern.contains('*'):
-    result = match(x, re(escapeRe(pattern).replace("\\x2A","(.*)"), {}))
+  let pp = splitLines(pattern.strip())
+  let xx = splitLines(x.strip())
+  if pp.len > xx.len:
+    return false
+  for l in 0..pp.len-1:
+    let p = pp[l].split('\t')
+    let x = xx[l].split('\t')
+    if p.len > x.len:
+      return false
+    for i in 0..p.len-1:
+      let starAt = p[i].find('*')
+      if starAt >= 0:
+        if p[i] == "*":
+          discard "field exists, that is good enough"
+        elif x[i].startsWith(p[i].substr(0, starAt-1)) and x[i].endsWith(p[i].substr(starAt+1)):
+          discard
+        else:
+          return false
+      else:
+        if x[i] != p[i]:
+          return false
+  return true
 
 proc sendEpcStr(socket: Socket; cmd: string) =
   let s = cmd.find(' ')
diff --git a/nimsuggest/tests/tinclude.nim b/nimsuggest/tests/tinclude.nim
index f5cbabf053..d47bce0748 100644
--- a/nimsuggest/tests/tinclude.nim
+++ b/nimsuggest/tests/tinclude.nim
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ def;;skType;;minclude_types.Greet;;Greet;;*fixtures/minclude_types.nim;;4;;2;;""
 >def $path/fixtures/minclude_include.nim:3:71
 def;;skType;;minclude_types.Greet;;Greet;;*fixtures/minclude_types.nim;;4;;2;;"";;100
 >outline $path/fixtures/minclude_import.nim
-outline;;skProc;;minclude_import.say;;*fixtures/minclude_import.nim;;7;;5;;"";;100
-outline;;skProc;;minclude_import.create;;*fixtures/minclude_include.nim;;3;;5;;"";;100
-outline;;skProc;;minclude_import.say;;*fixtures/minclude_import.nim;;13;;5;;"";;100
+outline;;skProc;;minclude_import.say;;*;;*fixtures/minclude_import.nim;;7;;5;;"";;100
+outline;;skProc;;minclude_import.create;;*;;*fixtures/minclude_include.nim;;3;;5;;"";;100
+outline;;skProc;;minclude_import.say;;*;;*fixtures/minclude_import.nim;;13;;5;;"";;100
 """
 
 # TODO test/fix if the first `def` is not first or repeated we get no results