diff --git a/src/abg-suppression.cc b/src/abg-suppression.cc
index 84c9b78f..8b3631fd 100644
--- a/src/abg-suppression.cc
+++ b/src/abg-suppression.cc
@@ -1619,6 +1619,30 @@ maybe_get_string_prop(const ini::config::section& section,
   return true;
 }
 
+/// Maybe compile a property to a regex.
+///
+/// Attempt to find a simple property in an ini section and compile it
+/// to a regex.
+///
+/// @param section the ini section to look in
+///
+/// @param prop the property name
+///
+/// @param r the regex to compile into
+///
+/// @return whether the property was found
+static bool
+maybe_get_regex_prop(const ini::config::section& section,
+                     const std::string& name,
+                     regex_t_sptr& regex)
+{
+  string str;
+  if (!maybe_get_string_prop(section, name, str))
+    return false;
+  regex = regex::compile(str);
+  return true;
+}
+
 /// Read a type suppression from an instance of ini::config::section
 /// and build a @ref type_suppression as a result.
 ///
@@ -1641,45 +1665,23 @@ read_type_suppression(const ini::config::section& section)
   string label_str;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "label", label_str);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr file_name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("file_name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr file_name_regex;
-  if (file_name_regex_prop)
-    file_name_regex =
-      regex::compile(file_name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "file_name_regexp", file_name_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr file_name_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("file_name_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr file_name_not_regex;
-  if (file_name_not_regex_prop)
-    file_name_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(file_name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "file_name_not_regexp", file_name_not_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr soname_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("soname_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr soname_regex;
-  if (soname_regex_prop)
-    soname_regex = regex::compile(soname_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "soname_regexp", soname_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr soname_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("soname_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr soname_not_regex;
-  if (soname_not_regex_prop)
-    soname_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(soname_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "soname_not_regexp", soname_not_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr name_regex;
-  if (name_regex_prop)
-    name_regex = regex::compile(name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "name_regexp", name_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr name_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("name_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr name_not_regex;
-  if (name_not_regex_prop)
-    name_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "name_not_regexp", name_not_regex);
 
   string name_str;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "name", name_str);
@@ -1706,12 +1708,8 @@ read_type_suppression(const ini::config::section& section)
 	}
     }
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr srcloc_not_regexp_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("source_location_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr srcloc_not_regex;
-  if (srcloc_not_regexp_prop)
-    srcloc_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(srcloc_not_regexp_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "source_location_not_regexp", srcloc_not_regex);
 
   std::string type_kind_str;
   bool consider_type_kind =
@@ -3195,85 +3193,47 @@ read_function_suppression(const ini::config::section& section)
   string label_str;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "label", label_str);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr file_name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("file_name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr file_name_regex;
-  if (file_name_regex_prop)
-    file_name_regex =
-      regex::compile(file_name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "file_name_regexp", file_name_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr file_name_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("file_name_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr file_name_not_regex;
-  if (file_name_not_regex_prop)
-    file_name_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(file_name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "file_name_not_regexp", file_name_not_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr soname_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("soname_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr soname_regex;
-  if (soname_regex_prop)
-    soname_regex = regex::compile(soname_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "soname_regexp", soname_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr soname_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("soname_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr soname_not_regex;
-  if (soname_not_regex_prop)
-    soname_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(soname_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "soname_not_regexp", soname_not_regex);
 
   string name;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "name", name);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr name_regex;
-  if (name_regex_prop)
-    name_regex = regex::compile(name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "name_regexp", name_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr name_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("name_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr name_not_regex;
-  if (name_not_regex_prop)
-    name_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "name_not_regexp", name_not_regex);
 
   string return_type_name;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "return_type_name", return_type_name);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr return_type_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("return_type_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr return_type_regex;
-  if (return_type_regex_prop)
-    return_type_regex =
-      regex::compile(return_type_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "return_type_regexp", return_type_regex);
 
   string sym_name;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "symbol_name", sym_name);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr sym_name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("symbol_name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr sym_name_regex;
-  if (sym_name_regex_prop)
-    sym_name_regex =
-      regex::compile(sym_name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "symbol_name_regexp", sym_name_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr sym_name_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("symbol_name_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr sym_name_not_regex;
-  if (sym_name_not_regex_prop)
-    sym_name_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(sym_name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "symbol_name_not_regexp", sym_name_not_regex);
 
   string sym_version;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "symbol_version", sym_version);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr sym_ver_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("symbol_version_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr sym_ver_regex;
-  if (sym_ver_regex_prop)
-    sym_ver_regex =
-      regex::compile(sym_ver_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "symbol_version_regexp", sym_ver_regex);
 
   string allow_other_aliases;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "allow_other_aliases", allow_other_aliases);
@@ -4025,85 +3985,47 @@ read_variable_suppression(const ini::config::section& section)
   string label_str;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "label", label_str);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr file_name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("file_name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr file_name_regex;
-  if (file_name_regex_prop)
-    file_name_regex =
-      regex::compile(file_name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
-
- ini::simple_property_sptr file_name_not_regex_prop =
-  is_simple_property(section.find_property("file_name_not_regexp"));
- regex_t_sptr file_name_not_regex;
- if (file_name_not_regex_prop)
-   file_name_not_regex =
-     regex::compile(file_name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
-
-  ini::simple_property_sptr soname_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("soname_regexp"));
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "file_name_regexp", file_name_regex);
+
+  regex_t_sptr file_name_not_regex;
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "file_name_not_regexp", file_name_not_regex);
+
   regex_t_sptr soname_regex;
-  if (soname_regex_prop)
-    soname_regex = regex::compile(soname_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "soname_regexp", soname_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr soname_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("soname_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr soname_not_regex;
-  if (soname_not_regex_prop)
-    soname_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(soname_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "soname_not_regexp", soname_not_regex);
 
   string name_str;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "name", name_str);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr name_regex;
-  if (name_regex_prop)
-    name_regex = regex::compile(name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "name_regexp", name_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr name_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("name_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr name_not_regex;
-  if (name_not_regex_prop)
-    name_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "name_not_regexp", name_not_regex);
 
   string symbol_name;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "symbol_name", symbol_name);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr sym_name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("symbol_name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr symbol_name_regex;
-  if (sym_name_regex_prop)
-    symbol_name_regex =
-      regex::compile(sym_name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "symbol_name_regexp", symbol_name_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr sym_name_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("symbol_name_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr symbol_name_not_regex;
-  if (sym_name_not_regex_prop)
-    symbol_name_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(sym_name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "symbol_name_not_regexp", symbol_name_not_regex);
 
   string symbol_version;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "symbol_version", symbol_version);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr sym_version_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("symbol_version_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr symbol_version_regex;
-  if (sym_version_regex_prop)
-    symbol_version_regex =
-      regex::compile(sym_version_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "symbol_version_regexp", symbol_version_regex);
 
   string type_name_str;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "type_name", type_name_str);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr type_name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("type_name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr type_name_regex;
-  if (type_name_regex_prop)
-    type_name_regex =
-      regex::compile(type_name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "type_name_regexp", type_name_regex);
 
   result.reset(new variable_suppression(label_str,
 					name_str,
@@ -4246,32 +4168,17 @@ read_file_suppression(const ini::config::section& section)
   string label_str;
   maybe_get_string_prop(section, "label", label_str);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr file_name_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("file_name_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr file_name_regex;
-  if (file_name_regex_prop)
-    file_name_regex =
-      regex::compile(file_name_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
-
- ini::simple_property_sptr file_name_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("file_name_not_regexp"));
- regex_t_sptr file_name_not_regex;
- if (file_name_not_regex_prop)
-   file_name_not_regex =
-     regex::compile(file_name_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
-
-  ini::simple_property_sptr soname_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("soname_regexp"));
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "file_name_regexp", file_name_regex);
+
+  regex_t_sptr file_name_not_regex;
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "file_name_not_regexp", file_name_not_regex);
+
   regex_t_sptr soname_regex;
-  if (soname_regex_prop)
-    soname_regex = regex::compile(soname_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "soname_regexp", soname_regex);
 
-  ini::simple_property_sptr soname_not_regex_prop =
-    is_simple_property(section.find_property("soname_not_regexp"));
   regex_t_sptr soname_not_regex;
-  if (soname_not_regex_prop)
-    soname_not_regex =
-      regex::compile(soname_not_regex_prop->get_value()->as_string());
+  maybe_get_regex_prop(section, "soname_not_regexp", soname_not_regex);
 
   result.reset(new file_suppression(label_str,
 				    file_name_regex,
