diff --git a/src/imcflibs/imagej/bdv.py b/src/imcflibs/imagej/bdv.py
index cfcb12a..f9fb4db 100644
--- a/src/imcflibs/imagej/bdv.py
+++ b/src/imcflibs/imagej/bdv.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def backup_xml_files(source_directory, subfolder_name):
     pathtools.create_directory(xml_backup_directory)
     backup_subfolder = xml_backup_directory + "/%s" % (subfolder_name)
     pathtools.create_directory(backup_subfolder)
-    all_xml_files = pathtools.listdir_matching(source_directory, ".xml*")
+    all_xml_files = pathtools.listdir_matching(source_directory, ".xml*", regex=True)
     os.chdir(source_directory)
     for xml_file in all_xml_files:
         shutil.copy2(xml_file, backup_subfolder)
diff --git a/src/imcflibs/pathtools.py b/src/imcflibs/pathtools.py
index 37839e6..832ae39 100644
--- a/src/imcflibs/pathtools.py
+++ b/src/imcflibs/pathtools.py
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@
 import os.path
 import platform
 from os import sep
+import re
 
 from . import strtools
 from .log import LOG as log
 
 
 def parse_path(path, prefix=""):
-    r"""Parse a path into its components.
+    """Parse a path into its components.
 
     If the path doesn't end with the pathsep, it is assumed being a file!
     No tests based on existing files are done, as this is supposed to also work
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ def jython_fiji_exists(path):
         return False
 
 
-def listdir_matching(path, suffix, fullpath=False, sort=False):
+def listdir_matching(path, suffix, fullpath=False, sort=False, regex=False):
     """Get a list of files in a directory matching a given suffix.
 
     Parameters
@@ -180,12 +181,17 @@ def listdir_matching(path, suffix, fullpath=False, sort=False):
     """
     matching_files = list()
     for candidate in os.listdir(path):
-        if candidate.lower().endswith(suffix.lower()):
+        if not regex and candidate.lower().endswith(suffix.lower()):
             # log.debug("Found file %s", candidate)
             if fullpath:
                 matching_files.append(os.path.join(path, candidate))
             else:
                 matching_files.append(candidate)
+        if regex and re.match(suffix.lower(), candidate.lower()):
+            if fullpath:
+                matching_files.append(os.path.join(path, candidate))
+            else:
+                matching_files.append(candidate)
 
     if sort:
         matching_files = strtools.sort_alphanumerically(matching_files)