diff --git a/code/robots.py b/code/robots.py
index 8b72388..994a1f9 100755
--- a/code/robots.py
+++ b/code/robots.py
@@ -178,23 +178,23 @@ def list_to_pcre(robots_json):
     patterns = []
 
     # regular old substring matches:
-    formatted = "|".join([
+    formatted = [
         f"{re.escape(agent)}"
         for agent, config in robots_json.items()
         if not config.get("sends_full_name", False) and not config.get("has_name_and_version", False)
-    ])
-    patterns.extend( f"({formatted})" )
+    ]
+    patterns.extend( formatted )
 
     # agents that just send their names pokemon-style
-    exact_agents = "|".join([
+    exact_agents = [
         f"^{re.escape(agent)}$"
         for agent, config in robots_json.items()
         if config.get("sends_full_name", False)
     ])
-    patterns.extend( f"^({exact_agents})$" )
+    patterns.extend(exact_agents)
 
     # agents who use Name/1.1.3-style elements 
-    versioned_agents = "|".join([
+    versioned_agents = [
         f"{re.escape(agent)}/[0-9.]+"
         for agent, config in robots_json.items()
         if config.get("has_name_and_version", False)