diff --git a/gramps/gen/db/base.py b/gramps/gen/db/base.py
index 7240c8e1e..fd0c19dd5 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/db/base.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/db/base.py
@@ -1318,6 +1318,11 @@ class DbReadBase(object):
                     matched = re.match("^" + value + "$", v, re.MULTILINE)
                 else:
                     matched = False
+            elif op == "REGEXP":
+                if value and v:
+                    matched = re.search(value, v, re.MULTILINE) is not None
+                else:
+                    matched = False
             else:
                 raise Exception("invalid select operator: '%s'" % op)
             return True if matched else False
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/database/dbapi_support/sqlite.py b/gramps/plugins/database/dbapi_support/sqlite.py
index f40f19d42..07edb535a 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/database/dbapi_support/sqlite.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/database/dbapi_support/sqlite.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import sqlite3
 import logging
+import re
 
 sqlite3.paramstyle = 'qmark'
 
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ class Sqlite(object):
         self.connection = sqlite3.connect(*args, **kwargs)
         self.cursor = self.connection.cursor()
         self.queries = {}
+        self.connection.create_function("regexp", 2, regexp)
 
     def execute(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.log.debug(args)
@@ -42,3 +44,6 @@ class Sqlite(object):
     def close(self):
         self.log.debug("closing database...")
         self.connection.close()
+
+def regexp(expr, value):
+    return re.search(expr, value, re.MULTILINE) is not None