diff --git a/S3/FileLists.py b/S3/FileLists.py
index 8ce38d4c5..0737ad9c3 100644
--- a/S3/FileLists.py
+++ b/S3/FileLists.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import sys
 import glob
 import copy
+import re
 
 __all__ = ["fetch_local_list", "fetch_remote_list", "compare_filelists", "filter_exclude_include"]
 
@@ -398,16 +399,12 @@ def _get_filelist_remote(remote_uri, recursive = True):
             uri_str = str(uri)
             ## Wildcards used in remote URI?
             ## If yes we'll need a bucket listing...
-            if uri_str.find('*') > -1 or uri_str.find('?') > -1:
-                first_wildcard = uri_str.find('*')
-                first_questionmark = uri_str.find('?')
-                if first_questionmark > -1 and first_questionmark < first_wildcard:
-                    first_wildcard = first_questionmark
-                prefix = uri_str[:first_wildcard]
-                rest = uri_str[first_wildcard+1:]
+            wildcard_split_result = re.split("\*|\?", uri_str, maxsplit=1)
+            if len(wildcard_split_result) == 2: # wildcards found
+                prefix, rest = wildcard_split_result
                 ## Only request recursive listing if the 'rest' of the URI,
                 ## i.e. the part after first wildcard, contains '/'
-                need_recursion = rest.find('/') > -1
+                need_recursion = '/' in rest
                 objectlist = _get_filelist_remote(S3Uri(prefix), recursive = need_recursion)
                 for key in objectlist:
                     ## Check whether the 'key' matches the requested wildcards