diff --git a/Lib/email/header.py b/Lib/email/header.py
index c7b2dd9..7b30a03 100644
--- a/Lib/email/header.py
+++ b/Lib/email/header.py
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@
   =\?                   # literal =?
   (?P<charset>[^?]*?)   # non-greedy up to the next ? is the charset
   \?                    # literal ?
-  (?P<encoding>[qb])    # either a "q" or a "b", case insensitive
+  (?P<encoding>[qQbB])  # either a "q" or a "b", case insensitive
   \?                    # literal ?
   (?P<encoded>.*?)      # non-greedy up to the next ?= is the encoded string
   \?=                   # literal ?=
-  ''', re.VERBOSE | re.IGNORECASE | re.MULTILINE)
+  ''', re.VERBOSE | re.MULTILINE)
 
 # Field name regexp, including trailing colon, but not separating whitespace,
 # according to RFC 2822.  Character range is from tilde to exclamation mark.
diff --git a/Lib/email/utils.py b/Lib/email/utils.py
index 39c2240..858f620 100644
--- a/Lib/email/utils.py
+++ b/Lib/email/utils.py
@@ -114,18 +114,6 @@
     return a.addresslist
 
 
-
-ecre = re.compile(r'''
-  =\?                   # literal =?
-  (?P<charset>[^?]*?)   # non-greedy up to the next ? is the charset
-  \?                    # literal ?
-  (?P<encoding>[qb])    # either a "q" or a "b", case insensitive
-  \?                    # literal ?
-  (?P<atom>.*?)         # non-greedy up to the next ?= is the atom
-  \?=                   # literal ?=
-  ''', re.VERBOSE | re.IGNORECASE)
-
-
 def _format_timetuple_and_zone(timetuple, zone):
     return '%s, %02d %s %04d %02d:%02d:%02d %s' % (
         ['Mon', 'Tue', 'Wed', 'Thu', 'Fri', 'Sat', 'Sun'][timetuple[6]],