diff --git a/lib/puppet/type/vs_bridge.rb b/lib/puppet/type/vs_bridge.rb
index c5a5e7ca..cbcce902 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/type/vs_bridge.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/type/vs_bridge.rb
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
       if !value.is_a?(String)
         raise ArgumentError, "Invalid external_ids #{value}. Requires a String, not a #{value.class}"
       end
-      if value !~ /^(?>[a-zA-Z]\w*=\w*){1}(?>[,][a-zA-Z]\w*=\w*)*$/
+      if value !~ /^(?>[a-zA-Z]\S*=\S*){1}(?>[,][a-zA-Z]\S*=\S*)*$/
         raise ArgumentError, "Invalid external_ids #{value}. Must a list of key1=value2,key2=value2"
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/unit/puppet/lib/type/vs_bridge_spec.rb b/spec/unit/puppet/lib/type/vs_bridge_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4b88b317
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/unit/puppet/lib/type/vs_bridge_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe Puppet::Type.type(:vs_bridge) do
+
+  it "should support present as a value for ensure" do
+    expect do
+      described_class.new(:name => 'foo', :ensure => :present, :external_ids => 'foo=br-ex,blah-id=bar)')
+    end.to_not raise_error
+  end
+
+end