diff --git a/docs/conf/modules.conf.example b/docs/conf/modules.conf.example
index f76954adf..18042597a 100644
--- a/docs/conf/modules.conf.example
+++ b/docs/conf/modules.conf.example
@@ -1765,6 +1765,10 @@
 # module. You must have at least 1 provider loaded to use the filter or
 # R-line modules.
 #<module name="regex_pcre2">
+#
+# If you were using PCRE in v3 or earlier you can enable this to try to
+# keep compatibility with your regular expressions from older versions.
+#<pcre2 compat="yes">
 
 #-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#
 # Regular Expression Provider for RE2 Regular Expressions.
diff --git a/src/modules/extra/m_regex_pcre2.cpp b/src/modules/extra/m_regex_pcre2.cpp
index a8e9c535a..c0acd627d 100644
--- a/src/modules/extra/m_regex_pcre2.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/extra/m_regex_pcre2.cpp
@@ -75,15 +75,34 @@ class PCRE2Pattern final
 	}
 };
 
+class PCRECompatEngine final
+	: public Regex::Engine
+{
+public:
+	PCRECompatEngine(Module* Creator, const std::string& Name)
+		: Regex::Engine(Creator, Name)
+	{
+		if (!ServerInstance->Config->ConfValue("pcre2")->getBool("compat"))
+			DisableAutoRegister();
+	}
+
+	Regex::PatternPtr Create(const std::string& pattern, uint8_t options) override
+	{
+		return std::make_shared<PCRE2Pattern>(pattern, options);
+	}
+};
+
 class ModuleRegexPCRE2 final
 	: public Module
 {
  private:
+	PCRECompatEngine compatregex;
 	Regex::SimpleEngine<PCRE2Pattern> regex;
 
  public:
 	ModuleRegexPCRE2()
 		: Module(VF_VENDOR, "Provides the pcre2 regular expression engine which uses the PCRE2 library.")
+		, compatregex(this, "pcre")
 		, regex(this, "pcre2")
 	{
 	}