diff --git a/anchor-utils/anchor-utils.php b/anchor-utils/anchor-utils.php
index 556b161..9885b93 100644
--- a/anchor-utils/anchor-utils.php
+++ b/anchor-utils/anchor-utils.php
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class anchor_utils {
 			<\s*a\s+
 			([^<>]+)
 			>
-			(.+?)
+			((?!<\s*\/\s*a\s*>).+?)
 			<\s*\/\s*a\s*>
 			/isx", array('anchor_utils', 'ob_filter_callback'), $text);
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class anchor_utils {
 			<\s*a\s+
 			([^<>]+)
 			>
-			(.+?)
+			((?!<\s*\/\s*a\s*>).+?)
 			<\s*\/\s*a\s*>
 			/isx", array('anchor_utils', 'filter_callback'), $text);