diff --git a/scripts/uniquify-module-names.py b/scripts/uniquify-module-names.py
index d53eb2f0..237054f2 100755
--- a/scripts/uniquify-module-names.py
+++ b/scripts/uniquify-module-names.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def generate_copy(c, sfx):
   new_file = os.path.join(args.gcpath, new_file)
 
   shutil.copy(cur_file, new_file)
-  bash(f"sed -i s/\"module {cur_name}\"/\"module {new_name}\"/ {new_file}")
+  bash(f"sed -i 's/module\( \+\){cur_name}/module\\1{new_name}/' {new_file}")
   return new_file
 
 def bfs_uniquify_modules(tree, common_fnames, verilog_module_filename):
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ def bfs_uniquify_modules(tree, common_fnames, verilog_module_filename):
         new_file = generate_copy(cur_file, MODEL_SFX)
         if parent is not None and ((parent, mod) not in updated_submodule):
           parent_file = os.path.join(args.gcpath, verilog_module_filename[parent])
-          bash(f"sed -i s/\"{mod} \"/\"{mod}_{MODEL_SFX} \"/ {parent_file}")
+          bash(f"sed -i 's/\( \*\){mod}\( \+\)/\\1{mod}_{MODEL_SFX}\\2/' {parent_file}")
           updated_submodule.add((parent, mod))
 
         # add the uniquified module to the verilog_modul_filename dict