diff --git a/rules/ast/ast.go b/rules/ast/ast.go
index feec0181f5..42391d2840 100644
--- a/rules/ast/ast.go
+++ b/rules/ast/ast.go
@@ -175,8 +175,8 @@ type (
 type (
 	// A VectorSelector represents a metric name plus labelset.
 	VectorSelector struct {
-		labels clientmodel.LabelSet
-		// Fingerprints are populated from labels at query analysis time.
+		labelMatchers metric.LabelMatchers
+		// Fingerprints are populated from label matchers at query analysis time.
 		fingerprints clientmodel.Fingerprints
 	}
 
@@ -211,8 +211,8 @@ type (
 	// A MatrixSelector represents a metric name plus labelset and
 	// timerange.
 	MatrixSelector struct {
-		labels clientmodel.LabelSet
-		// Fingerprints are populated from labels at query
+		labelMatchers metric.LabelMatchers
+		// Fingerprints are populated from label matchers at query
 		// analysis time.
 		fingerprints clientmodel.Fingerprints
 		interval     time.Duration
@@ -738,9 +738,9 @@ func NewScalarLiteral(value clientmodel.SampleValue) *ScalarLiteral {
 
 // NewVectorSelector returns a (not yet evaluated) VectorSelector with
 // the given LabelSet.
-func NewVectorSelector(labels clientmodel.LabelSet) *VectorSelector {
+func NewVectorSelector(m metric.LabelMatchers) *VectorSelector {
 	return &VectorSelector{
-		labels: labels,
+		labelMatchers: m,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -833,8 +833,8 @@ func NewArithExpr(opType BinOpType, lhs Node, rhs Node) (Node, error) {
 // the given VectorSelector and Duration.
 func NewMatrixSelector(vector *VectorSelector, interval time.Duration) *MatrixSelector {
 	return &MatrixSelector{
-		labels:   vector.labels,
-		interval: interval,
+		labelMatchers: vector.labelMatchers,
+		interval:      interval,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/rules/ast/printer.go b/rules/ast/printer.go
index db2540b913..17a31a8b29 100644
--- a/rules/ast/printer.go
+++ b/rules/ast/printer.go
@@ -320,14 +320,13 @@ func (node *ScalarArithExpr) String() string {
 }
 
 func (node *VectorSelector) String() string {
-	metricName, ok := node.labels[clientmodel.MetricNameLabel]
-	if !ok {
-		panic("Tried to print vector without metric name")
-	}
-	labelStrings := make([]string, 0, len(node.labels)-1)
-	for label, value := range node.labels {
-		if label != clientmodel.MetricNameLabel {
-			labelStrings = append(labelStrings, fmt.Sprintf("%s=%q", label, value))
+	labelStrings := make([]string, 0, len(node.labelMatchers)-1)
+	var metricName clientmodel.LabelValue
+	for _, matcher := range node.labelMatchers {
+		if matcher.Name != clientmodel.MetricNameLabel {
+			labelStrings = append(labelStrings, fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%q", matcher.Name, matcher.Type, matcher.Value))
+		} else {
+			metricName = matcher.Value
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -357,7 +356,7 @@ func (node *VectorArithExpr) String() string {
 }
 
 func (node *MatrixSelector) String() string {
-	vectorString := (&VectorSelector{labels: node.labels}).String()
+	vectorString := (&VectorSelector{labelMatchers: node.labelMatchers}).String()
 	intervalString := fmt.Sprintf("[%s]", utility.DurationToString(node.interval))
 	return vectorString + intervalString
 }
diff --git a/rules/ast/query_analyzer.go b/rules/ast/query_analyzer.go
index 1a8e7ed26e..14bb280a46 100644
--- a/rules/ast/query_analyzer.go
+++ b/rules/ast/query_analyzer.go
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ func NewQueryAnalyzer(storage *metric.TieredStorage) *QueryAnalyzer {
 func (analyzer *QueryAnalyzer) Visit(node Node) {
 	switch n := node.(type) {
 	case *VectorSelector:
-		fingerprints, err := analyzer.storage.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(n.labels)
+		fingerprints, err := analyzer.storage.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(n.labelMatchers)
 		if err != nil {
-			glog.Errorf("Error getting fingerprints for labelset %v: %v", n.labels, err)
+			glog.Errorf("Error getting fingerprints for label matchers %v: %v", n.labelMatchers, err)
 			return
 		}
 		n.fingerprints = fingerprints
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ func (analyzer *QueryAnalyzer) Visit(node Node) {
 			}
 		}
 	case *MatrixSelector:
-		fingerprints, err := analyzer.storage.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(n.labels)
+		fingerprints, err := analyzer.storage.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(n.labelMatchers)
 		if err != nil {
-			glog.Errorf("Error getting fingerprints for labelset %v: %v", n.labels, err)
+			glog.Errorf("Error getting fingerprints for label matchers %v: %v", n.labelMatchers, err)
 			return
 		}
 		n.fingerprints = fingerprints
diff --git a/rules/helpers.go b/rules/helpers.go
index 6b16833cd3..b883e4b19d 100644
--- a/rules/helpers.go
+++ b/rules/helpers.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	clientmodel "github.com/prometheus/client_golang/model"
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/prometheus/rules/ast"
+	"github.com/prometheus/prometheus/storage/metric"
 	"github.com/prometheus/prometheus/utility"
 )
 
@@ -116,6 +117,20 @@ func NewMatrixSelector(vector ast.Node, intervalStr string) (ast.MatrixNode, err
 	return ast.NewMatrixSelector(vectorSelector, interval), nil
 }
 
+func newLabelMatcher(matchTypeStr string, name clientmodel.LabelName, value clientmodel.LabelValue) (*metric.LabelMatcher, error) {
+	matchTypes := map[string]metric.MatchType{
+		"=":  metric.Equal,
+		"!=": metric.NotEqual,
+		"=~": metric.RegexMatch,
+		"!~": metric.RegexNoMatch,
+	}
+	matchType, ok := matchTypes[matchTypeStr]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Invalid label matching operator \"%v\"", matchTypeStr)
+	}
+	return metric.NewLabelMatcher(matchType, name, value)
+}
+
 func ConsoleLinkForExpression(expr string) string {
 	// url.QueryEscape percent-escapes everything except spaces, for which it
 	// uses "+". However, in the non-query part of a URI, only percent-escaped
diff --git a/rules/lexer.l b/rules/lexer.l
index f4e3cfa184..482d70e5c9 100644
--- a/rules/lexer.l
+++ b/rules/lexer.l
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ KEEPING_EXTRA|keeping_extra return KEEPING_EXTRA
 AVG|SUM|MAX|MIN|COUNT    lval.str = lexer.token(); return AGGR_OP
 avg|sum|max|min|count    lval.str = strings.ToUpper(lexer.token()); return AGGR_OP
 \<|>|AND|OR|and|or       lval.str = strings.ToUpper(lexer.token()); return CMP_OP
-==|!=|>=|<=              lval.str = lexer.token(); return CMP_OP
+==|!=|>=|<=|=~|!~        lval.str = lexer.token(); return CMP_OP
 [+\-]                    lval.str = lexer.token(); return ADDITIVE_OP
 [*/%]                    lval.str = lexer.token(); return MULT_OP
 
diff --git a/rules/lexer.l.go b/rules/lexer.l.go
index c58a11288c..5efe43f822 100644
--- a/rules/lexer.l.go
+++ b/rules/lexer.l.go
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ c = lexer.getChar()
 switch {
 default:
 goto yyabort
-case c == '=':
+case c == '=' || c == '~':
 goto yystate4
 }
 
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ c = lexer.getChar()
 switch {
 default:
 goto yyrule26
-case c == '=':
+case c == '=' || c == '~':
 goto yystate4
 }
 
@@ -2068,9 +2068,9 @@ yyrule16: // \<|>|AND|OR|and|or
       lval.str = strings.ToUpper(lexer.token()); return CMP_OP
 goto yystate0
 }
-yyrule17: // ==|!=|>=|<=
+yyrule17: // ==|!=|>=|<=|=~|!~
 {
-             lval.str = lexer.token(); return CMP_OP
+       lval.str = lexer.token(); return CMP_OP
 goto yystate0
 }
 yyrule18: // [+\-]
diff --git a/rules/parser.y b/rules/parser.y
index 78573d5ac4..cc59429ec9 100644
--- a/rules/parser.y
+++ b/rules/parser.y
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
           clientmodel "github.com/prometheus/client_golang/model"
 
           "github.com/prometheus/prometheus/rules/ast"
+          "github.com/prometheus/prometheus/storage/metric"
         )
 %}
 
@@ -29,6 +30,8 @@
         boolean bool
         labelNameSlice clientmodel.LabelNames
         labelSet clientmodel.LabelSet
+        labelMatcher *metric.LabelMatcher
+        labelMatchers metric.LabelMatchers
 }
 
 /* We simulate multiple start symbols for closely-related grammars via dummy tokens. See
@@ -46,9 +49,11 @@
 %type <ruleNodeSlice> func_arg_list
 %type <labelNameSlice> label_list grouping_opts
 %type <labelSet> label_assign label_assign_list rule_labels
+%type <labelMatcher> label_match
+%type <labelMatchers> label_match_list label_matches
 %type <ruleNode> rule_expr func_arg
 %type <boolean> qualifier extra_labels_opts
-%type <str> for_duration metric_name
+%type <str> for_duration metric_name label_match_type
 
 %right '='
 %left CMP_OP
@@ -119,11 +124,44 @@ label_assign       : IDENTIFIER '=' STRING
                      { $$ = clientmodel.LabelSet{ clientmodel.LabelName($1): clientmodel.LabelValue($3) } }
                    ;
 
+label_matches      : /* empty */
+                     { $$ = metric.LabelMatchers{} }
+                   | '{' '}'
+                     { $$ = metric.LabelMatchers{} }
+                   | '{' label_match_list '}'
+                     { $$ = $2 }
+                   ;
+
+label_match_list   : label_match
+                     { $$ = metric.LabelMatchers{$1} }
+                   | label_match_list ',' label_match
+                     { $$ = append($$, $3) }
+                   ;
+
+label_match        : IDENTIFIER label_match_type STRING
+                     {
+                       var err error
+                       $$, err = newLabelMatcher($2, clientmodel.LabelName($1), clientmodel.LabelValue($3))
+                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
+                     }
+                   ;
+
+label_match_type   : '='
+                     { $$ = "=" }
+                   | CMP_OP
+                     { $$ = $1 }
+                   ;
 
 rule_expr          : '(' rule_expr ')'
                      { $$ = $2 }
-                   | metric_name rule_labels
-                     { $2[clientmodel.MetricNameLabel] = clientmodel.LabelValue($1); $$ = ast.NewVectorSelector($2) }
+                   | metric_name label_matches
+                     {
+                       var err error
+                       m, err := metric.NewLabelMatcher(metric.Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, clientmodel.LabelValue($1))
+                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
+                       $2 = append($2, m)
+                       $$ = ast.NewVectorSelector($2)
+                     }
                    | IDENTIFIER '(' func_arg_list ')'
                      {
                        var err error
diff --git a/rules/parser.y.go b/rules/parser.y.go
index 355d8ddebb..4b440c373d 100644
--- a/rules/parser.y.go
+++ b/rules/parser.y.go
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ import __yyfmt__ "fmt"
           clientmodel "github.com/prometheus/client_golang/model"
 
           "github.com/prometheus/prometheus/rules/ast"
+          "github.com/prometheus/prometheus/storage/metric"
         )
 
-//line parser.y:24
+//line parser.y:25
 type yySymType struct {
 	yys int
         num clientmodel.SampleValue
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ type yySymType struct {
         boolean bool
         labelNameSlice clientmodel.LabelNames
         labelSet clientmodel.LabelSet
+        labelMatcher *metric.LabelMatcher
+        labelMatchers metric.LabelMatchers
 }
 
 const START_RULES = 57346
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@ const yyEofCode = 1
 const yyErrCode = 2
 const yyMaxDepth = 200
 
-//line parser.y:204
+//line parser.y:242
 
 
 //line yacctab:1
@@ -85,79 +88,87 @@ var yyExca = []int{
 	-2, 10,
 }
 
-const yyNprod = 40
+const yyNprod = 48
 const yyPrivate = 57344
 
 var yyTokenNames []string
 var yyStates []string
 
-const yyLast = 108
+const yyLast = 121
 
 var yyAct = []int{
 
-	22, 40, 41, 36, 19, 46, 6, 17, 9, 42,
-	21, 12, 11, 72, 23, 71, 10, 17, 20, 18,
-	19, 30, 31, 32, 20, 18, 19, 44, 43, 62,
-	7, 39, 52, 17, 65, 20, 18, 19, 25, 17,
-	20, 18, 19, 9, 42, 24, 12, 11, 54, 33,
-	17, 10, 55, 57, 9, 17, 60, 12, 11, 18,
-	19, 51, 10, 50, 37, 7, 73, 70, 47, 48,
-	53, 49, 76, 17, 66, 45, 7, 8, 16, 64,
-	59, 67, 29, 27, 35, 15, 12, 77, 75, 56,
-	74, 69, 26, 37, 28, 2, 3, 13, 5, 4,
-	1, 61, 63, 14, 34, 58, 68, 38,
+	44, 59, 41, 40, 36, 47, 6, 17, 9, 42,
+	21, 12, 11, 18, 19, 84, 10, 83, 20, 18,
+	19, 30, 31, 32, 20, 18, 19, 17, 43, 72,
+	7, 39, 55, 17, 75, 25, 20, 18, 19, 17,
+	20, 18, 19, 24, 9, 42, 70, 12, 11, 61,
+	33, 17, 10, 9, 62, 17, 12, 11, 64, 67,
+	19, 10, 54, 60, 53, 37, 7, 68, 69, 45,
+	23, 76, 56, 17, 88, 7, 48, 49, 52, 82,
+	85, 78, 16, 58, 46, 34, 8, 51, 74, 15,
+	66, 27, 79, 89, 12, 29, 87, 77, 63, 86,
+	81, 26, 60, 37, 28, 2, 3, 13, 5, 4,
+	1, 50, 71, 73, 14, 22, 35, 57, 65, 80,
+	38,
 }
 var yyPact = []int{
 
-	91, -1000, -1000, 48, 67, -1000, 25, 48, -11, 17,
-	10, -1000, -1000, -1000, 77, 88, -1000, 74, 48, 48,
-	48, 20, -1000, 58, 2, 48, -11, -1000, 56, -26,
-	-13, -23, 43, -1000, 42, -1000, -1000, 47, 34, -1000,
-	-1000, 25, -1000, 3, 46, 48, -1000, -1000, 87, 82,
-	-1000, 37, 68, 48, 9, -1000, -1000, -1000, 66, 6,
-	25, 53, 73, -1000, -1000, 85, -11, -1000, -14, -1000,
-	44, -1000, 84, 81, -1000, 49, 80, -1000,
+	101, -1000, -1000, 47, 71, -1000, 25, 47, 45, 15,
+	7, -1000, -1000, -1000, 85, 98, -1000, 87, 47, 47,
+	47, 21, -1000, 59, 2, 47, 44, -1000, 65, -26,
+	43, -23, -3, -1000, -1000, 50, -1000, 63, 35, -1000,
+	-1000, 25, -1000, 3, 48, 57, 47, -1000, -1000, 97,
+	91, -1000, -1000, -1000, 38, 78, 47, 41, -1000, -1000,
+	22, 9, -1000, -1000, -1000, 75, 6, 25, -1000, 96,
+	90, 60, 84, -1000, -1000, 94, -1000, -1000, 44, -1000,
+	-12, -1000, 58, -1000, 93, 89, -1000, 51, 86, -1000,
 }
 var yyPgo = []int{
 
-	0, 107, 106, 105, 3, 104, 0, 2, 1, 103,
-	102, 101, 77, 100, 99, 98, 97,
+	0, 120, 119, 118, 1, 117, 0, 4, 116, 115,
+	2, 3, 114, 113, 112, 86, 111, 110, 109, 108,
+	107,
 }
 var yyR1 = []int{
 
-	0, 13, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16, 16, 11, 11,
-	9, 9, 12, 12, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4,
-	7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7,
-	10, 10, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 8, 8,
+	0, 17, 17, 18, 18, 19, 20, 20, 14, 14,
+	12, 12, 15, 15, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4,
+	9, 9, 9, 8, 8, 7, 16, 16, 10, 10,
+	10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 13, 13,
+	3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 11, 11,
 }
 var yyR2 = []int{
 
 	0, 2, 2, 0, 2, 1, 5, 11, 0, 2,
 	0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 3, 2, 1, 3, 3,
-	3, 2, 4, 3, 4, 6, 3, 3, 3, 1,
-	0, 1, 0, 4, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1,
+	0, 2, 3, 1, 3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 2,
+	4, 3, 4, 6, 3, 3, 3, 1, 0, 1,
+	0, 4, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1,
 }
 var yyChk = []int{
 
-	-1000, -13, 4, 5, -14, -15, -7, 28, -12, 6,
-	14, 10, 9, -16, -9, 18, 11, 30, 16, 17,
-	15, -7, -6, 25, 28, 28, -12, 6, 6, 8,
-	-7, -7, -7, 29, -5, 26, -4, 6, -1, 29,
-	-8, -7, 7, -7, -6, 19, 31, 26, 27, 24,
-	29, 27, 29, 24, -7, -4, 7, -8, -3, 12,
-	-7, -11, 20, -10, 13, 28, 21, 8, -2, 6,
-	-6, 29, 27, 22, 6, 7, 23, 7,
+	-1000, -17, 4, 5, -18, -19, -10, 28, -15, 6,
+	14, 10, 9, -20, -12, 18, 11, 30, 16, 17,
+	15, -10, -9, 25, 28, 28, -15, 6, 6, 8,
+	-10, -10, -10, 29, 26, -8, -7, 6, -1, 29,
+	-11, -10, 7, -10, -6, 25, 19, 31, 26, 27,
+	-16, 24, 15, 29, 27, 29, 24, -5, 26, -4,
+	6, -10, -7, 7, -11, -3, 12, -10, 26, 27,
+	24, -14, 20, -13, 13, 28, -4, 7, 21, 8,
+	-2, 6, -6, 29, 27, 22, 6, 7, 23, 7,
 }
 var yyDef = []int{
 
-	0, -2, 3, 0, -2, 2, 5, 0, 14, 13,
-	0, 29, 12, 4, 0, 0, 11, 0, 0, 0,
-	0, 0, 21, 0, 0, 0, 14, 13, 0, 0,
-	26, 27, 28, 20, 0, 16, 17, 0, 0, 23,
-	36, 38, 39, 0, 0, 0, 24, 15, 0, 0,
-	22, 0, 32, 0, 8, 18, 19, 37, 30, 0,
-	6, 0, 0, 25, 31, 0, 14, 9, 0, 34,
-	0, 33, 0, 0, 35, 0, 0, 7,
+	0, -2, 3, 0, -2, 2, 5, 0, 20, 13,
+	0, 37, 12, 4, 0, 0, 11, 0, 0, 0,
+	0, 0, 29, 0, 0, 0, 14, 13, 0, 0,
+	34, 35, 36, 28, 21, 0, 23, 0, 0, 31,
+	44, 46, 47, 0, 0, 0, 0, 32, 22, 0,
+	0, 26, 27, 30, 0, 40, 0, 0, 16, 17,
+	0, 8, 24, 25, 45, 38, 0, 6, 15, 0,
+	0, 0, 0, 33, 39, 0, 18, 19, 14, 9,
+	0, 42, 0, 41, 0, 0, 43, 0, 0, 7,
 }
 var yyTok1 = []int{
 
@@ -411,145 +422,179 @@ yydefault:
 	switch yynt {
 
 	case 5:
-		//line parser.y:69
+		//line parser.y:74
 		{ yylex.(*RulesLexer).parsedExpr = yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode }
 	case 6:
-		//line parser.y:74
+		//line parser.y:79
 		{
 	                       rule, err := CreateRecordingRule(yyS[yypt-3].str, yyS[yypt-2].labelSet, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-4].boolean)
 	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
 	                       yylex.(*RulesLexer).parsedRules = append(yylex.(*RulesLexer).parsedRules, rule)
 	                     }
 	case 7:
-		//line parser.y:80
+		//line parser.y:85
 		{
 	                       rule, err := CreateAlertingRule(yyS[yypt-9].str, yyS[yypt-7].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-6].str, yyS[yypt-4].labelSet, yyS[yypt-2].str, yyS[yypt-0].str)
 	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
 	                       yylex.(*RulesLexer).parsedRules = append(yylex.(*RulesLexer).parsedRules, rule)
 	                     }
 	case 8:
-		//line parser.y:88
+		//line parser.y:93
 		{ yyVAL.str = "0s" }
 	case 9:
-		//line parser.y:90
+		//line parser.y:95
 		{ yyVAL.str = yyS[yypt-0].str }
 	case 10:
-		//line parser.y:94
+		//line parser.y:99
 		{ yyVAL.boolean = false }
 	case 11:
-		//line parser.y:96
+		//line parser.y:101
 		{ yyVAL.boolean = true }
 	case 12:
-		//line parser.y:100
+		//line parser.y:105
 		{ yyVAL.str = yyS[yypt-0].str }
 	case 13:
-		//line parser.y:102
+		//line parser.y:107
 		{ yyVAL.str = yyS[yypt-0].str }
 	case 14:
-		//line parser.y:106
+		//line parser.y:111
 		{ yyVAL.labelSet = clientmodel.LabelSet{} }
 	case 15:
-		//line parser.y:108
+		//line parser.y:113
 		{ yyVAL.labelSet = yyS[yypt-1].labelSet  }
 	case 16:
-		//line parser.y:110
+		//line parser.y:115
 		{ yyVAL.labelSet = clientmodel.LabelSet{} }
 	case 17:
-		//line parser.y:113
+		//line parser.y:118
 		{ yyVAL.labelSet = yyS[yypt-0].labelSet }
 	case 18:
-		//line parser.y:115
+		//line parser.y:120
 		{ for k, v := range yyS[yypt-0].labelSet { yyVAL.labelSet[k] = v } }
 	case 19:
-		//line parser.y:119
+		//line parser.y:124
 		{ yyVAL.labelSet = clientmodel.LabelSet{ clientmodel.LabelName(yyS[yypt-2].str): clientmodel.LabelValue(yyS[yypt-0].str) } }
 	case 20:
-		//line parser.y:124
-		{ yyVAL.ruleNode = yyS[yypt-1].ruleNode }
-	case 21:
-		//line parser.y:126
-		{ yyS[yypt-0].labelSet[clientmodel.MetricNameLabel] = clientmodel.LabelValue(yyS[yypt-1].str); yyVAL.ruleNode = ast.NewVectorSelector(yyS[yypt-0].labelSet) }
-	case 22:
 		//line parser.y:128
+		{ yyVAL.labelMatchers = metric.LabelMatchers{} }
+	case 21:
+		//line parser.y:130
+		{ yyVAL.labelMatchers = metric.LabelMatchers{} }
+	case 22:
+		//line parser.y:132
+		{ yyVAL.labelMatchers = yyS[yypt-1].labelMatchers }
+	case 23:
+		//line parser.y:136
+		{ yyVAL.labelMatchers = metric.LabelMatchers{yyS[yypt-0].labelMatcher} }
+	case 24:
+		//line parser.y:138
+		{ yyVAL.labelMatchers = append(yyVAL.labelMatchers, yyS[yypt-0].labelMatcher) }
+	case 25:
+		//line parser.y:142
+		{
+	                       var err error
+	                       yyVAL.labelMatcher, err = newLabelMatcher(yyS[yypt-1].str, clientmodel.LabelName(yyS[yypt-2].str), clientmodel.LabelValue(yyS[yypt-0].str))
+	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
+	                     }
+	case 26:
+		//line parser.y:150
+		{ yyVAL.str = "=" }
+	case 27:
+		//line parser.y:152
+		{ yyVAL.str = yyS[yypt-0].str }
+	case 28:
+		//line parser.y:156
+		{ yyVAL.ruleNode = yyS[yypt-1].ruleNode }
+	case 29:
+		//line parser.y:158
+		{
+	                       var err error
+	                       m, err := metric.NewLabelMatcher(metric.Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, clientmodel.LabelValue(yyS[yypt-1].str))
+	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
+	                       yyS[yypt-0].labelMatchers = append(yyS[yypt-0].labelMatchers, m)
+	                       yyVAL.ruleNode = ast.NewVectorSelector(yyS[yypt-0].labelMatchers)
+	                     }
+	case 30:
+		//line parser.y:166
 		{
 	                       var err error
 	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewFunctionCall(yyS[yypt-3].str, yyS[yypt-1].ruleNodeSlice)
 	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
 	                     }
-	case 23:
-		//line parser.y:134
+	case 31:
+		//line parser.y:172
 		{
 	                       var err error
 	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewFunctionCall(yyS[yypt-2].str, []ast.Node{})
 	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
 	                     }
-	case 24:
-		//line parser.y:140
+	case 32:
+		//line parser.y:178
 		{
 	                       var err error
 	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewMatrixSelector(yyS[yypt-3].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-1].str)
 	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
 	                     }
-	case 25:
-		//line parser.y:146
+	case 33:
+		//line parser.y:184
 		{
 	                       var err error
 	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewVectorAggregation(yyS[yypt-5].str, yyS[yypt-3].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-1].labelNameSlice, yyS[yypt-0].boolean)
 	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
 	                     }
-	case 26:
-		//line parser.y:154
-		{
-	                       var err error
-	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewArithExpr(yyS[yypt-1].str, yyS[yypt-2].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode)
-	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
-	                     }
-	case 27:
-		//line parser.y:160
-		{
-	                       var err error
-	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewArithExpr(yyS[yypt-1].str, yyS[yypt-2].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode)
-	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
-	                     }
-	case 28:
-		//line parser.y:166
-		{
-	                       var err error
-	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewArithExpr(yyS[yypt-1].str, yyS[yypt-2].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode)
-	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
-	                     }
-	case 29:
-		//line parser.y:172
-		{ yyVAL.ruleNode = ast.NewScalarLiteral(yyS[yypt-0].num)}
-	case 30:
-		//line parser.y:176
-		{ yyVAL.boolean = false }
-	case 31:
-		//line parser.y:178
-		{ yyVAL.boolean = true }
-	case 32:
-		//line parser.y:182
-		{ yyVAL.labelNameSlice = clientmodel.LabelNames{} }
-	case 33:
-		//line parser.y:184
-		{ yyVAL.labelNameSlice = yyS[yypt-1].labelNameSlice }
 	case 34:
-		//line parser.y:188
-		{ yyVAL.labelNameSlice = clientmodel.LabelNames{clientmodel.LabelName(yyS[yypt-0].str)} }
+		//line parser.y:192
+		{
+	                       var err error
+	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewArithExpr(yyS[yypt-1].str, yyS[yypt-2].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode)
+	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
+	                     }
 	case 35:
-		//line parser.y:190
-		{ yyVAL.labelNameSlice = append(yyVAL.labelNameSlice, clientmodel.LabelName(yyS[yypt-0].str)) }
+		//line parser.y:198
+		{
+	                       var err error
+	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewArithExpr(yyS[yypt-1].str, yyS[yypt-2].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode)
+	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
+	                     }
 	case 36:
-		//line parser.y:194
-		{ yyVAL.ruleNodeSlice = []ast.Node{yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode} }
+		//line parser.y:204
+		{
+	                       var err error
+	                       yyVAL.ruleNode, err = NewArithExpr(yyS[yypt-1].str, yyS[yypt-2].ruleNode, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode)
+	                       if err != nil { yylex.Error(err.Error()); return 1 }
+	                     }
 	case 37:
-		//line parser.y:196
-		{ yyVAL.ruleNodeSlice = append(yyVAL.ruleNodeSlice, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode) }
+		//line parser.y:210
+		{ yyVAL.ruleNode = ast.NewScalarLiteral(yyS[yypt-0].num)}
 	case 38:
-		//line parser.y:200
-		{ yyVAL.ruleNode = yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode }
+		//line parser.y:214
+		{ yyVAL.boolean = false }
 	case 39:
-		//line parser.y:202
+		//line parser.y:216
+		{ yyVAL.boolean = true }
+	case 40:
+		//line parser.y:220
+		{ yyVAL.labelNameSlice = clientmodel.LabelNames{} }
+	case 41:
+		//line parser.y:222
+		{ yyVAL.labelNameSlice = yyS[yypt-1].labelNameSlice }
+	case 42:
+		//line parser.y:226
+		{ yyVAL.labelNameSlice = clientmodel.LabelNames{clientmodel.LabelName(yyS[yypt-0].str)} }
+	case 43:
+		//line parser.y:228
+		{ yyVAL.labelNameSlice = append(yyVAL.labelNameSlice, clientmodel.LabelName(yyS[yypt-0].str)) }
+	case 44:
+		//line parser.y:232
+		{ yyVAL.ruleNodeSlice = []ast.Node{yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode} }
+	case 45:
+		//line parser.y:234
+		{ yyVAL.ruleNodeSlice = append(yyVAL.ruleNodeSlice, yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode) }
+	case 46:
+		//line parser.y:238
+		{ yyVAL.ruleNode = yyS[yypt-0].ruleNode }
+	case 47:
+		//line parser.y:240
 		{ yyVAL.ruleNode = ast.NewStringLiteral(yyS[yypt-0].str) }
 	}
 	goto yystack /* stack new state and value */
diff --git a/rules/rules_test.go b/rules/rules_test.go
index 4c8c158642..2267ac4212 100644
--- a/rules/rules_test.go
+++ b/rules/rules_test.go
@@ -406,6 +406,47 @@ func TestExpressions(t *testing.T) {
 			// Interval durations can"t be in quotes.
 			expr:       `http_requests["1m"]`,
 			shouldFail: true,
+		}, {
+			expr: `http_requests{group!="canary"}`,
+			output: []string{
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="1", job="app-server"} => 600 @[%v]`,
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="0", job="app-server"} => 500 @[%v]`,
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="1", job="api-server"} => 200 @[%v]`,
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="0", job="api-server"} => 100 @[%v]`,
+			},
+			fullRanges:     0,
+			intervalRanges: 4,
+		}, {
+			expr: `http_requests{job=~"server",group!="canary"}`,
+			output: []string{
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="1", job="app-server"} => 600 @[%v]`,
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="0", job="app-server"} => 500 @[%v]`,
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="1", job="api-server"} => 200 @[%v]`,
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="0", job="api-server"} => 100 @[%v]`,
+			},
+			fullRanges:     0,
+			intervalRanges: 4,
+		}, {
+			expr: `http_requests{job!~"api",group!="canary"}`,
+			output: []string{
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="1", job="app-server"} => 600 @[%v]`,
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="0", job="app-server"} => 500 @[%v]`,
+			},
+			fullRanges:     0,
+			intervalRanges: 2,
+		}, {
+			expr:           `count_scalar(http_requests{job=~"^server$"})`,
+			output:         []string{`scalar: 0 @[%v]`},
+			fullRanges:     0,
+			intervalRanges: 0,
+		}, {
+			expr: `http_requests{group="production",job=~"^api"}`,
+			output: []string{
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="1", job="api-server"} => 200 @[%v]`,
+				`http_requests{group="production", instance="0", job="api-server"} => 100 @[%v]`,
+			},
+			fullRanges:     0,
+			intervalRanges: 2,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/storage/metric/end_to_end_test.go b/storage/metric/end_to_end_test.go
index 4a36d7d75a..cd24447ea9 100644
--- a/storage/metric/end_to_end_test.go
+++ b/storage/metric/end_to_end_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 package metric
 
 import (
+	"sort"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -23,58 +24,131 @@ import (
 )
 
 func GetFingerprintsForLabelSetTests(p MetricPersistence, t test.Tester) {
-	testAppendSamples(p, &clientmodel.Sample{
-		Value:     0,
-		Timestamp: 0,
-		Metric: clientmodel.Metric{
-			clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "my_metric",
-			"request_type":              "your_mom",
+	metrics := []clientmodel.Metric{
+		{
+			clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "test_metric",
+			"method":                    "get",
+			"result":                    "success",
 		},
-	}, t)
-
-	testAppendSamples(p, &clientmodel.Sample{
-		Value:     0,
-		Timestamp: 0,
-		Metric: clientmodel.Metric{
-			clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "my_metric",
-			"request_type":              "your_dad",
+		{
+			clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "test_metric",
+			"method":                    "get",
+			"result":                    "failure",
+		},
+		{
+			clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "test_metric",
+			"method":                    "post",
+			"result":                    "success",
+		},
+		{
+			clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "test_metric",
+			"method":                    "post",
+			"result":                    "failure",
 		},
-	}, t)
-
-	result, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet{
-		clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: clientmodel.LabelValue("my_metric"),
-	})
-
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	if len(result) != 2 {
-		t.Errorf("Expected two elements.")
+	newTestLabelMatcher := func(matchType MatchType, name clientmodel.LabelName, value clientmodel.LabelValue) *LabelMatcher {
+		m, err := NewLabelMatcher(matchType, name, value)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Couldn't create label matcher: %v", err)
+		}
+		return m
 	}
 
-	result, err = p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet{
-		clientmodel.LabelName("request_type"): clientmodel.LabelValue("your_mom"),
-	})
-
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
+	scenarios := []struct {
+		in         LabelMatchers
+		outIndexes []int
+	}{
+		{
+			in: LabelMatchers{
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, "test_metric"),
+			},
+			outIndexes: []int{0, 1, 2, 3},
+		},
+		{
+			in: LabelMatchers{
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, "non_existent_metric"),
+			},
+			outIndexes: []int{},
+		},
+		{
+			in: LabelMatchers{
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, "non_existent_metric"),
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, "result", "success"),
+			},
+			outIndexes: []int{},
+		},
+		{
+			in: LabelMatchers{
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, "test_metric"),
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, "result", "success"),
+			},
+			outIndexes: []int{0, 2},
+		},
+		{
+			in: LabelMatchers{
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, "test_metric"),
+				newTestLabelMatcher(NotEqual, "result", "success"),
+			},
+			outIndexes: []int{1, 3},
+		},
+		{
+			in: LabelMatchers{
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, "test_metric"),
+				newTestLabelMatcher(RegexMatch, "result", "foo|success|bar"),
+			},
+			outIndexes: []int{0, 2},
+		},
+		{
+			in: LabelMatchers{
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, "test_metric"),
+				newTestLabelMatcher(RegexNoMatch, "result", "foo|success|bar"),
+			},
+			outIndexes: []int{1, 3},
+		},
+		{
+			in: LabelMatchers{
+				newTestLabelMatcher(Equal, clientmodel.MetricNameLabel, "test_metric"),
+				newTestLabelMatcher(RegexNoMatch, "result", "foo|success|bar"),
+				newTestLabelMatcher(RegexMatch, "method", "os"),
+			},
+			outIndexes: []int{3},
+		},
 	}
 
-	if len(result) != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("Expected one element.")
+	for _, m := range metrics {
+		testAppendSamples(p, &clientmodel.Sample{
+			Value:     0,
+			Timestamp: 0,
+			Metric:    m,
+		}, t)
 	}
 
-	result, err = p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet{
-		clientmodel.LabelName("request_type"): clientmodel.LabelValue("your_dad"),
-	})
+	for i, s := range scenarios {
+		actualFps, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(s.in)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%d. Couldn't get fingerprints for label matchers: %v", i, err)
+		}
 
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+		expectedFps := clientmodel.Fingerprints{}
+		for _, i := range s.outIndexes {
+			fp := &clientmodel.Fingerprint{}
+			fp.LoadFromMetric(metrics[i])
+			expectedFps = append(expectedFps, fp)
+		}
 
-	if len(result) != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("Expected one element.")
+		sort.Sort(actualFps)
+		sort.Sort(expectedFps)
+
+		if len(actualFps) != len(expectedFps) {
+			t.Fatalf("%d. Got %d fingerprints; want %d", i, len(actualFps), len(expectedFps))
+		}
+
+		for j, actualFp := range actualFps {
+			if !actualFp.Equal(expectedFps[j]) {
+				t.Fatalf("%d.%d. Got fingerprint %v; want %v", i, j, actualFp, expectedFps[j])
+			}
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -140,9 +214,11 @@ func GetMetricForFingerprintTests(p MetricPersistence, t test.Tester) {
 		},
 	}, t)
 
-	result, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet{
-		clientmodel.LabelName("request_type"): clientmodel.LabelValue("your_mom"),
-	})
+	result, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(LabelMatchers{{
+		Type:  Equal,
+		Name:  "request_type",
+		Value: "your_mom",
+	}})
 
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
@@ -169,9 +245,11 @@ func GetMetricForFingerprintTests(p MetricPersistence, t test.Tester) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected metric to match.")
 	}
 
-	result, err = p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet{
-		clientmodel.LabelName("request_type"): clientmodel.LabelValue("your_dad"),
-	})
+	result, err = p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(LabelMatchers{{
+		Type:  Equal,
+		Name:  "request_type",
+		Value: "your_dad",
+	}})
 
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
@@ -256,15 +334,15 @@ func AppendRepeatingValuesTests(p MetricPersistence, t test.Tester) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	labelSet := clientmodel.LabelSet{
+	matchers := labelMatchersFromLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet{
 		clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "errors_total",
 		"controller":                "foo",
 		"operation":                 "bar",
-	}
+	})
 
 	for i := 0; i < increments; i++ {
 		for j := 0; j < repetitions; j++ {
-			fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet)
+			fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(matchers)
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatal(err)
 			}
@@ -319,15 +397,15 @@ func AppendsRepeatingValuesTests(p MetricPersistence, t test.Tester) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	labelSet := clientmodel.LabelSet{
+	matchers := labelMatchersFromLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet{
 		clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "errors_total",
 		"controller":                "foo",
 		"operation":                 "bar",
-	}
+	})
 
 	for i := 0; i < increments; i++ {
 		for j := 0; j < repetitions; j++ {
-			fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet)
+			fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(matchers)
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatal(err)
 			}
diff --git a/storage/metric/instrumentation.go b/storage/metric/instrumentation.go
index b26c9460d7..809d9b0d65 100644
--- a/storage/metric/instrumentation.go
+++ b/storage/metric/instrumentation.go
@@ -25,15 +25,15 @@ const (
 	failure   = "failure"
 	result    = "result"
 
-	appendSample               = "append_sample"
-	appendSamples              = "append_samples"
-	flushMemory                = "flush_memory"
-	getLabelValuesForLabelName = "get_label_values_for_label_name"
-	getFingerprintsForLabelSet = "get_fingerprints_for_labelset"
-	getMetricForFingerprint    = "get_metric_for_fingerprint"
-	hasIndexMetric             = "has_index_metric"
-	refreshHighWatermarks      = "refresh_high_watermarks"
-	renderView                 = "render_view"
+	appendSample                    = "append_sample"
+	appendSamples                   = "append_samples"
+	flushMemory                     = "flush_memory"
+	getLabelValuesForLabelName      = "get_label_values_for_label_name"
+	getFingerprintsForLabelMatchers = "get_fingerprints_for_label_matchers"
+	getMetricForFingerprint         = "get_metric_for_fingerprint"
+	hasIndexMetric                  = "has_index_metric"
+	refreshHighWatermarks           = "refresh_high_watermarks"
+	renderView                      = "render_view"
 
 	cutOff        = "recency_threshold"
 	processorName = "processor"
diff --git a/storage/metric/interface.go b/storage/metric/interface.go
index 71349ab7a7..3b013e0263 100644
--- a/storage/metric/interface.go
+++ b/storage/metric/interface.go
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ type MetricPersistence interface {
 	AppendSamples(clientmodel.Samples) error
 
 	// Get all of the metric fingerprints that are associated with the
-	// provided label set.
-	GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet) (clientmodel.Fingerprints, error)
+	// provided label matchers.
+	GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(LabelMatchers) (clientmodel.Fingerprints, error)
 
 	// Get all of the label values that are associated with a given label name.
 	GetLabelValuesForLabelName(clientmodel.LabelName) (clientmodel.LabelValues, error)
diff --git a/storage/metric/leveldb.go b/storage/metric/leveldb.go
index 8620305c3a..171c139e5c 100644
--- a/storage/metric/leveldb.go
+++ b/storage/metric/leveldb.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ type LevelDBMetricPersistence struct {
 	//
 	// type FingerprintResolver interface {
 	// 	GetFingerprintForMetric(clientmodel.Metric) (*clientmodel.Fingerprint, bool, error)
-	// 	GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(LabelPair) (clientmodel.Fingerprints, bool, error)
+	// 	GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(LabelPair) (clientmodel.Fingerprints, bool, error)
 	// }
 
 	// type MetricResolver interface {
@@ -419,33 +419,57 @@ func (l *LevelDBMetricPersistence) hasIndexMetric(m clientmodel.Metric) (value b
 	return l.MetricMembershipIndex.Has(m)
 }
 
-// GetFingerprintsForLabelSet returns the Fingerprints for the given LabelSet by
-// querying the underlying LabelPairFingerprintIndex for each LabelPair
-// contained in LabelSet.  It implements the MetricPersistence interface.
-func (l *LevelDBMetricPersistence) GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet clientmodel.LabelSet) (fps clientmodel.Fingerprints, err error) {
+// GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers returns the Fingerprints for the given
+// LabelMatchers by querying the underlying LabelPairFingerprintIndex and
+// possibly the LabelNameLabelValuesIndex for each matcher. It implements the
+// MetricPersistence interface.
+func (l *LevelDBMetricPersistence) GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(labelMatchers LabelMatchers) (fps clientmodel.Fingerprints, err error) {
 	defer func(begin time.Time) {
 		duration := time.Since(begin)
 
-		recordOutcome(duration, err, map[string]string{operation: getFingerprintsForLabelSet, result: success}, map[string]string{operation: getFingerprintsForLabelSet, result: failure})
+		recordOutcome(duration, err, map[string]string{operation: getFingerprintsForLabelMatchers, result: success}, map[string]string{operation: getFingerprintsForLabelMatchers, result: failure})
 	}(time.Now())
 
 	sets := []utility.Set{}
 
-	for name, value := range labelSet {
-		fps, _, err := l.LabelPairToFingerprints.Lookup(&LabelPair{
-			Name:  name,
-			Value: value,
-		})
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
+	for _, matcher := range labelMatchers {
 		set := utility.Set{}
 
-		for _, fp := range fps {
-			set.Add(*fp)
-		}
+		switch matcher.Type {
+		case Equal:
+			fps, _, err := l.LabelPairToFingerprints.Lookup(&LabelPair{
+				Name:  matcher.Name,
+				Value: matcher.Value,
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
 
+			for _, fp := range fps {
+				set.Add(*fp)
+			}
+		default:
+			values, err := l.GetLabelValuesForLabelName(matcher.Name)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			matches := matcher.Filter(values)
+			if len(matches) == 0 {
+				return nil, nil
+			}
+			for _, v := range matches {
+				fps, _, err := l.LabelPairToFingerprints.Lookup(&LabelPair{
+					Name:  matcher.Name,
+					Value: v,
+				})
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, err
+				}
+				for _, fp := range fps {
+					set.Add(*fp)
+				}
+			}
+		}
 		sets = append(sets, set)
 	}
 
diff --git a/storage/metric/matcher.go b/storage/metric/matcher.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..58203ad26a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/storage/metric/matcher.go
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+// Copyright 2014 Prometheus Team
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package metric
+
+import (
+	"regexp"
+
+	clientmodel "github.com/prometheus/client_golang/model"
+)
+
+// MatchType is an enum for label matching types.
+type MatchType int
+
+// Possible MatchTypes.
+const (
+	Equal MatchType = iota
+	NotEqual
+	RegexMatch
+	RegexNoMatch
+)
+
+func (m MatchType) String() string {
+	typeToStr := map[MatchType]string{
+		Equal:        "=",
+		NotEqual:     "!=",
+		RegexMatch:   "=~",
+		RegexNoMatch: "!~",
+	}
+	if str, ok := typeToStr[m]; ok {
+		return str
+	}
+	panic("unknown match type")
+}
+
+// LabelMatchers is a slice of LabelMatcher objects.
+type LabelMatchers []*LabelMatcher
+
+// LabelMatcher models the matching of a label.
+type LabelMatcher struct {
+	Type  MatchType
+	Name  clientmodel.LabelName
+	Value clientmodel.LabelValue
+	re    *regexp.Regexp
+}
+
+// NewLabelMatcher returns a LabelMatcher object ready to use.
+func NewLabelMatcher(matchType MatchType, name clientmodel.LabelName, value clientmodel.LabelValue) (*LabelMatcher, error) {
+	m := &LabelMatcher{
+		Type:  matchType,
+		Name:  name,
+		Value: value,
+	}
+	if matchType == RegexMatch || matchType == RegexNoMatch {
+		re, err := regexp.Compile(string(value))
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		m.re = re
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// Match returns true if the label matcher matches the supplied label value.
+func (m *LabelMatcher) Match(v clientmodel.LabelValue) bool {
+	switch m.Type {
+	case Equal:
+		return m.Value == v
+	case NotEqual:
+		return m.Value != v
+	case RegexMatch:
+		return m.re.MatchString(string(v))
+	case RegexNoMatch:
+		return !m.re.MatchString(string(v))
+	default:
+		panic("invalid match type")
+	}
+}
+
+// Filter takes a list of label values and returns all label values which match
+// the label matcher.
+func (m *LabelMatcher) Filter(in clientmodel.LabelValues) clientmodel.LabelValues {
+	out := clientmodel.LabelValues{}
+	for _, v := range in {
+		if m.Match(v) {
+			out = append(out, v)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func labelMatchersFromLabelSet(l clientmodel.LabelSet) LabelMatchers {
+	m := make(LabelMatchers, 0, len(l))
+	for k, v := range l {
+		m = append(m, &LabelMatcher{
+			Type:  Equal,
+			Name:  k,
+			Value: v,
+		})
+	}
+	return m
+}
diff --git a/storage/metric/memory.go b/storage/metric/memory.go
index 568c65f39a..c21470b5cf 100644
--- a/storage/metric/memory.go
+++ b/storage/metric/memory.go
@@ -349,20 +349,45 @@ func (s *memorySeriesStorage) appendSamplesWithoutIndexing(fingerprint *clientmo
 	series.add(samples)
 }
 
-func (s *memorySeriesStorage) GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(l clientmodel.LabelSet) (clientmodel.Fingerprints, error) {
+func (s *memorySeriesStorage) GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(labelMatchers LabelMatchers) (clientmodel.Fingerprints, error) {
 	s.RLock()
 	defer s.RUnlock()
 
 	sets := []utility.Set{}
-	for k, v := range l {
-		set, ok := s.labelPairToFingerprints[LabelPair{
-			Name:  k,
-			Value: v,
-		}]
-		if !ok {
-			return nil, nil
+	for _, matcher := range labelMatchers {
+		switch matcher.Type {
+		case Equal:
+			set, ok := s.labelPairToFingerprints[LabelPair{
+				Name:  matcher.Name,
+				Value: matcher.Value,
+			}]
+			if !ok {
+				return nil, nil
+			}
+			sets = append(sets, set)
+		default:
+			values, err := s.GetLabelValuesForLabelName(matcher.Name)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+
+			matches := matcher.Filter(values)
+			if len(matches) == 0 {
+				return nil, nil
+			}
+			set := utility.Set{}
+			for _, v := range matches {
+				subset, ok := s.labelPairToFingerprints[LabelPair{
+					Name:  matcher.Name,
+					Value: v,
+				}]
+				if !ok {
+					return nil, nil
+				}
+				set = set.Union(subset)
+			}
+			sets = append(sets, set)
 		}
-		sets = append(sets, set)
 	}
 
 	setCount := len(sets)
diff --git a/storage/metric/memory_test.go b/storage/metric/memory_test.go
index 5a9db88e9f..de477ca127 100644
--- a/storage/metric/memory_test.go
+++ b/storage/metric/memory_test.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func TestDroppedSeriesIndexRegression(t *testing.T) {
 	s.AppendSamples(samples)
 
 	common := clientmodel.LabelSet{"common": "samevalue"}
-	fps, err := s.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(common)
+	fps, err := s.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(labelMatchersFromLabelSet(common))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func TestDroppedSeriesIndexRegression(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Got %d disk samples, expected 1", len(diskSamples))
 	}
 
-	fps, err = s.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(common)
+	fps, err = s.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(labelMatchersFromLabelSet(common))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/storage/metric/regressions_test.go b/storage/metric/regressions_test.go
index 28815ca5d0..084a8eedaa 100644
--- a/storage/metric/regressions_test.go
+++ b/storage/metric/regressions_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func GetFingerprintsForLabelSetUsesAndForLabelMatchingTests(p MetricPersistence,
 		"percentile":                "0.010000",
 	}
 
-	fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet)
+	fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(labelMatchersFromLabelSet(labelSet))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("could not get labels: %s", err)
 	}
diff --git a/storage/metric/stochastic_test.go b/storage/metric/stochastic_test.go
index b932c5ad36..028fe83fe4 100644
--- a/storage/metric/stochastic_test.go
+++ b/storage/metric/stochastic_test.go
@@ -40,14 +40,11 @@ func BasicLifecycleTests(p MetricPersistence, t test.Tester) {
 
 func ReadEmptyTests(p MetricPersistence, t test.Tester) {
 	hasLabelPair := func(x int) (success bool) {
-		name := clientmodel.LabelName(string(x))
-		value := clientmodel.LabelValue(string(x))
-
-		labelSet := clientmodel.LabelSet{
-			name: value,
-		}
-
-		fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet)
+		fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(LabelMatchers{{
+			Type:  Equal,
+			Name:  clientmodel.LabelName(string(x)),
+			Value: clientmodel.LabelValue(string(x)),
+		}})
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Error(err)
 			return
@@ -150,9 +147,11 @@ func AppendSampleAsSparseAppendWithReadsTests(p MetricPersistence, t test.Tester
 			return
 		}
 
-		fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(clientmodel.LabelSet{
-			labelName: labelValue,
-		})
+		fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(LabelMatchers{{
+			Type:  Equal,
+			Name:  labelName,
+			Value: labelValue,
+		}})
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Error(err)
 			return
@@ -329,11 +328,13 @@ func StochasticTests(persistenceMaker func() (MetricPersistence, test.Closer), t
 			metricNewestSample[metricIndex] = newestSample
 
 			for sharedLabelIndex := 0; sharedLabelIndex < numberOfSharedLabels; sharedLabelIndex++ {
-				labelPair := clientmodel.LabelSet{
-					clientmodel.LabelName(fmt.Sprintf("shared_label_%d", sharedLabelIndex)): clientmodel.LabelValue(fmt.Sprintf("label_%d", sharedLabelIndex)),
-				}
+				matchers := LabelMatchers{{
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  clientmodel.LabelName(fmt.Sprintf("shared_label_%d", sharedLabelIndex)),
+					Value: clientmodel.LabelValue(fmt.Sprintf("label_%d", sharedLabelIndex)),
+				}}
 
-				fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelPair)
+				fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(matchers)
 				if err != nil {
 					t.Error(err)
 					return
@@ -349,11 +350,13 @@ func StochasticTests(persistenceMaker func() (MetricPersistence, test.Closer), t
 			for unsharedLabelIndex := 0; unsharedLabelIndex < numberOfUnsharedLabels; unsharedLabelIndex++ {
 				labelName := clientmodel.LabelName(fmt.Sprintf("metric_index_%d_private_label_%d", metricIndex, unsharedLabelIndex))
 				labelValue := clientmodel.LabelValue(fmt.Sprintf("private_label_%d", unsharedLabelIndex))
-				labelSet := clientmodel.LabelSet{
-					labelName: labelValue,
-				}
+				matchers := LabelMatchers{{
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  labelName,
+					Value: labelValue,
+				}}
 
-				fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet)
+				fingerprints, err := p.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(matchers)
 				if err != nil {
 					t.Error(err)
 					return
diff --git a/storage/metric/tiered.go b/storage/metric/tiered.go
index a8e03acc2b..f3dec377e6 100644
--- a/storage/metric/tiered.go
+++ b/storage/metric/tiered.go
@@ -673,9 +673,9 @@ func (t *TieredStorage) GetAllValuesForLabel(labelName clientmodel.LabelName) (c
 	return values, nil
 }
 
-// GetFingerprintsForLabelSet gets all of the metric fingerprints that are
-// associated with the provided label set.
-func (t *TieredStorage) GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet clientmodel.LabelSet) (clientmodel.Fingerprints, error) {
+// GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers gets all of the metric fingerprints that are
+// associated with the provided label matchers.
+func (t *TieredStorage) GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(matchers LabelMatchers) (clientmodel.Fingerprints, error) {
 	t.mu.RLock()
 	defer t.mu.RUnlock()
 
@@ -683,11 +683,11 @@ func (t *TieredStorage) GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet clientmodel.LabelSet
 		panic("Illegal State: Attempted to query non-running TieredStorage.")
 	}
 
-	memFingerprints, err := t.memoryArena.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet)
+	memFingerprints, err := t.memoryArena.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(matchers)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	diskFingerprints, err := t.DiskStorage.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(labelSet)
+	diskFingerprints, err := t.DiskStorage.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(matchers)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/storage/metric/tiered_test.go b/storage/metric/tiered_test.go
index 75ea8a3e08..66a5f32649 100644
--- a/storage/metric/tiered_test.go
+++ b/storage/metric/tiered_test.go
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ func TestGetAllValuesForLabel(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestGetFingerprintsForLabelSet(t *testing.T) {
+func TestGetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(t *testing.T) {
 	tiered, closer := NewTestTieredStorage(t)
 	defer closer.Close()
 	memorySample := &clientmodel.Sample{
@@ -821,40 +821,65 @@ func TestGetFingerprintsForLabelSet(t *testing.T) {
 	tiered.Flush()
 
 	scenarios := []struct {
-		labels  clientmodel.LabelSet
-		fpCount int
+		matchers LabelMatchers
+		fpCount  int
 	}{
 		{
-			labels:  clientmodel.LabelSet{},
-			fpCount: 0,
+			matchers: LabelMatchers{},
+			fpCount:  0,
 		}, {
-			labels: clientmodel.LabelSet{
-				clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "http_requests",
+			matchers: LabelMatchers{
+				{
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  clientmodel.MetricNameLabel,
+					Value: "http_requests",
+				},
 			},
 			fpCount: 2,
 		}, {
-			labels: clientmodel.LabelSet{
-				clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "http_requests",
-				"method":                    "/foo",
+			matchers: LabelMatchers{
+				{
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  clientmodel.MetricNameLabel,
+					Value: "http_requests",
+				}, {
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  "method",
+					Value: "/foo",
+				},
 			},
 			fpCount: 1,
 		}, {
-			labels: clientmodel.LabelSet{
-				clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "http_requests",
-				"method":                    "/bar",
+			matchers: LabelMatchers{
+				{
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  clientmodel.MetricNameLabel,
+					Value: "http_requests",
+				}, {
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  "method",
+					Value: "/bar",
+				},
 			},
 			fpCount: 1,
 		}, {
-			labels: clientmodel.LabelSet{
-				clientmodel.MetricNameLabel: "http_requests",
-				"method":                    "/baz",
+			matchers: LabelMatchers{
+				{
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  clientmodel.MetricNameLabel,
+					Value: "http_requests",
+				}, {
+					Type:  Equal,
+					Name:  "method",
+					Value: "/baz",
+				},
 			},
 			fpCount: 0,
 		},
 	}
 
 	for i, scenario := range scenarios {
-		fingerprints, err := tiered.GetFingerprintsForLabelSet(scenario.labels)
+		fingerprints, err := tiered.GetFingerprintsForLabelMatchers(scenario.matchers)
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("%d. Error getting metric names: %s", i, err)
 		}
diff --git a/utility/set.go b/utility/set.go
index fee3b37cc7..eae156891b 100644
--- a/utility/set.go
+++ b/utility/set.go
@@ -13,16 +13,20 @@
 
 package utility
 
-type Set map[interface{}]bool
+// Set is a type which models a set.
+type Set map[interface{}]struct{}
 
+// Add adds an item to the set.
 func (s Set) Add(v interface{}) {
-	s[v] = true
+	s[v] = struct{}{}
 }
 
+// Remove removes an item from the set.
 func (s Set) Remove(v interface{}) {
 	delete(s, v)
 }
 
+// Elements returns a slice containing all elements in the set.
 func (s Set) Elements() []interface{} {
 	result := make([]interface{}, 0, len(s))
 
@@ -33,20 +37,36 @@ func (s Set) Elements() []interface{} {
 	return result
 }
 
+// Has returns true if an element is contained in the set.
 func (s Set) Has(v interface{}) bool {
 	_, p := s[v]
 
 	return p
 }
 
+// Intersection returns a new set with items that exist in both sets.
 func (s Set) Intersection(o Set) Set {
-	result := make(Set)
+	result := Set{}
 
 	for k := range s {
 		if o.Has(k) {
-			result[k] = true
+			result[k] = struct{}{}
 		}
 	}
 
 	return result
 }
+
+// Union returns a new set with all items in both sets.
+func (s Set) Union(o Set) Set {
+	result := Set{}
+
+	for k := range s {
+		result[k] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	for k := range o {
+		result[k] = struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	return result
+}