diff --git a/Lib/email/Message.py b/Lib/email/Message.py
index 00efbcc..6f0db85 100644
--- a/Lib/email/Message.py
+++ b/Lib/email/Message.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 import Utils
 
 SEMISPACE = '; '
-paramre = re.compile(r';\s*')
+paramre = re.compile(r'\s*;\s*')