diff --git a/src/core/util/util.js b/src/core/util/util.js
index a619ba7d6f..6d64bce382 100644
--- a/src/core/util/util.js
+++ b/src/core/util/util.js
@@ -1009,7 +1009,7 @@ function UtilFactory($document, $timeout, $compile, $rootScope, $$mdAnimate, $in
      */
     sanitize: function(term) {
       if (!term) return term;
-      return term.replace(/[\\^$*+?.()|{}[]]/g, '\\$&');
+      return term.replace(/[\\^$*+?.()|{}[]/g, '\\$&');
     }
   };
 
diff --git a/src/core/util/util.spec.js b/src/core/util/util.spec.js
index e8d03688a4..fe1bbe38d8 100644
--- a/src/core/util/util.spec.js
+++ b/src/core/util/util.spec.js
@@ -760,12 +760,14 @@ describe('util', function() {
       $mdUtil = _$mdUtil_;
     }));
 
-    it('Removes Regex indentifiers in a text', function() {
-
-      // eslint-disable-next-line no-useless-escape
-      var myText = '\+98';
+    it('sanitizes + signs', function() {
+      var myText = '+98';
+      expect($mdUtil.sanitize(myText)).toEqual('\\+98');
+    });
 
-      expect($mdUtil.sanitize(myText)).toEqual('+98');
+    it('sanitizes parenthesis', function() {
+      var myText = '()';
+      expect($mdUtil.sanitize(myText)).toEqual('\\(\\)');
     });
   });
 });