diff --git a/src/acl.c b/src/acl.c
index fe2310ef5..57fcaa5a7 100644
--- a/src/acl.c
+++ b/src/acl.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ struct acl_expr *parse_acl_expr(const char **args, char **err, struct arg_list *
 	signed long long value, minor;
 	/* The following buffer contain two numbers, a ':' separator and the final \0. */
 	char buffer[NB_LLMAX_STR + 1 + NB_LLMAX_STR + 1];
-	int is_loaded;
+	int is_loaded, match_forced;
 	int unique_id;
 	char *error;
 	struct pat_ref *ref;
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ struct acl_expr *parse_acl_expr(const char **args, char **err, struct arg_list *
 	refflags = PAT_REF_ACL;
 	patflags = 0;
 	is_loaded = 0;
+	match_forced = 0;
 	unique_id = -1;
 	while (**args == '-') {
 		if (strcmp(*args, "-i") == 0)
@@ -360,6 +361,10 @@ struct acl_expr *parse_acl_expr(const char **args, char **err, struct arg_list *
 				memprintf(err, "'-m' must only be specified before patterns and files in parsing ACL expression");
 				goto out_free_expr;
 			}
+			if (match_forced) {
+				memprintf(err, "only one explicit matching method can be defined with '*m' parameter");
+				goto out_free_expr;
+			}
 
 			idx = pat_find_match_name(args[1]);
 			if (idx < 0) {
@@ -377,6 +382,7 @@ struct acl_expr *parse_acl_expr(const char **args, char **err, struct arg_list *
 			expr->pat.match = pat_match_fcts[idx];
 			expr->pat.prune = pat_prune_fcts[idx];
 			expr->pat.expect_type = pat_match_types[idx];
+			match_forced = 1;
 			args++;
 		}
 		else if (strcmp(*args, "-M") == 0) {