diff --git a/ack b/ack
index 0c4c2bfa..e43c97b5 100755
--- a/ack
+++ b/ack
@@ -308,28 +308,33 @@ sub get_file_id {
 # Dies when the regex $str is undefined (i.e. not given on command line).
 
 sub build_regex {
-    my $str = shift;
+    my $pat = shift;
     my $opt = shift;
 
-    defined $str or App::Ack::die( 'No regular expression found.' );
+    defined $pat or App::Ack::die( 'No regular expression found.' );
+    my @pat = split /\n/, $pat;
 
-    $str = quotemeta( $str ) if $opt->{Q};
-    if ( $opt->{w} ) {
-        my $pristine_str = $str;
+    for my $str (@pat) {
+        $str = quotemeta( $str ) if $opt->{Q};
+        if ( $opt->{w} ) {
+            my $pristine_str = $str;
 
-        $str = "(?:$str)";
-        $str = "\\b$str" if $pristine_str =~ /^\w/;
-        $str = "$str\\b" if $pristine_str =~ /\w$/;
-    }
+            $str = "(?:$str)";
+            $str = "\\b$str" if $pristine_str =~ /^\w/;
+            $str = "$str\\b" if $pristine_str =~ /\w$/;
+        }
 
-    my $regex_is_lc = $str eq lc $str;
-    if ( $opt->{i} || ($opt->{smart_case} && $regex_is_lc) ) {
-        $str = "(?i)$str";
+        my $regex_is_lc = $str eq lc $str;
+        if ( $opt->{i} || ($opt->{smart_case} && $regex_is_lc) ) {
+            $str = "(?i)$str";
+        }
     }
 
-    my $re = eval { qr/$str/m };
+    $pat = join '|', @pat;
+
+    my $re = eval { qr/$pat/m };
     if ( !$re ) {
-        die "Invalid regex '$str':\n  $@";
+        die "Invalid regex '$pat':\n  $@";
     }
 
     return $re;
@@ -1068,9 +1073,9 @@ ack searches the named input FILEs or DIRECTORYs for lines containing a
 match to the given PATTERN.  By default, ack prints the matching lines.
 If no FILE or DIRECTORY is given, the current directory will be searched.
 
-PATTERN is a Perl regular expression.  Perl regular expressions
-are commonly found in other programming languages, but for the particulars
-of their behavior, please consult
+PATTERN is one or more newline-separated Perl regular expressions.  Perl
+regular expressions are commonly found in other programming languages, but
+for the particulars of their behavior, please consult
 L<http://perldoc.perl.org/perlreref.html|perlreref>.  If you don't know
 how to use regular expression but are interested in learning, you may
 consult L<http://perldoc.perl.org/perlretut.html|perlretut>.  If you do not
diff --git a/t/split-newline.t b/t/split-newline.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..41993933
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/split-newline.t
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#!perl -T
+
+use strict;
+use warnings;
+use lib 't';
+
+use File::Next;
+use Util;
+use Test::More tests => 12;
+
+prep_environment();
+
+SINGLE_STRING: {
+    my @expected = split( /\n/, <<'EOF' );
+One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away
+EOF
+
+    my @files = qw( t/text/me-and-bobbie-mcgee.txt );
+    my @results = run_ack( "Salinas", @files );
+
+    lists_match( \@results, \@expected, 'A single string pattern' );
+}
+
+SINGLE_REGEX: {
+    my @expected = split( /\n/, <<'EOF' );
+From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun
+Bobbie baby kept me from the cold
+EOF
+
+    my @files = qw( t/text/me-and-bobbie-mcgee.txt );
+    my @results = run_ack( "co(?:ld|al)", @files );
+
+    lists_match( \@results, \@expected, 'A single pattern' );
+}
+
+SINGLE_QUOTED_REGEX: {
+    my @expected = split( /\n/, <<'EOF' );
+EOF
+
+    my @files = qw( t/text/me-and-bobbie-mcgee.txt );
+    my @results = run_ack( "-Q", "co(?:ld|al)", @files );
+
+    lists_match( \@results, \@expected, 'A single quoted pattern (no match)' );
+}
+
+MULTIPLE_STRINGS: {
+    my @expected = split( /\n/, <<'EOF' );
+From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun
+One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away
+EOF
+
+    my @files = qw( t/text/me-and-bobbie-mcgee.txt );
+    my @results = run_ack( "Salinas\nKentucky", @files );
+
+    lists_match( \@results, \@expected, 'Multiple strings' );
+}
+
+MULTIPLE_REGEXES: {
+    my @expected = split( /\n/, <<'EOF' );
+I was playin' soft while Bobbie sang the blues
+From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun
+Bobbie shared the secrets of my soul
+Bobbie baby kept me from the cold
+One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away
+EOF
+
+    my @files = qw( t/text/me-and-bobbie-mcgee.txt );
+    my @results = run_ack( "co(?:ld|al)\nso(?:ft|ul)\nSalinas", @files );
+
+    lists_match( \@results, \@expected, 'Multiple regexes' );
+}
+
+MULTIPLE_QUOTED_REGEXES: {
+    my @expected = split( /\n/, <<'EOF' );
+One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away
+EOF
+
+    my @files = qw( t/text/me-and-bobbie-mcgee.txt );
+    my @results = run_ack( "-Q", "co(?:ld|al)\nso(?:ft|ul)\nSalinas", @files );
+
+    lists_match( \@results, \@expected, 'Multiple quoted regexes' );
+}