diff --git a/python/IECoreMaya/DAGPathParameter.py b/python/IECoreMaya/DAGPathParameter.py
index c28b0dd4e6..09bcdbcd3d 100644
--- a/python/IECoreMaya/DAGPathParameter.py
+++ b/python/IECoreMaya/DAGPathParameter.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def __getattr__( self, attrName ):
 	"""
 	@staticmethod
 	def pathValidator():
-		return re.compile( r"^(|?[^\t\n\r\f\v|]+)+\|?$" )
+		return re.compile( r"^(\|?[^\t\n\r\f\v|]+)+\|?$" )
 
 	"""
 	Returns (True, "") only if the value is a correct DAG path string and also checks that the DAG node exists or doesn't exist
diff --git a/python/IECoreMaya/NodeParameter.py b/python/IECoreMaya/NodeParameter.py
index 898e2df35b..cd92e10533 100644
--- a/python/IECoreMaya/NodeParameter.py
+++ b/python/IECoreMaya/NodeParameter.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def __getattr__( self, attrName ):
 	"""
 	@staticmethod
 	def pathValidator():
-		return re.compile( r"^(|?[^\t\n\r\f\v|]+)+\|?$" )
+		return re.compile( r"^(\|?[^\t\n\r\f\v|]+)+\|?$" )
 
 	"""
 	Returns (True, "") only if the value is a correct dependency nodestring and also checks that the node exists or doesn't exist