diff --git a/beets/util/__init__.py b/beets/util/__init__.py
index 234b564af..dd63983b5 100644
--- a/beets/util/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/util/__init__.py
@@ -683,12 +683,12 @@ def max_filename_length(path, limit=MAX_FILENAME_LENGTH):
 def feat_tokens(for_artist=True):
     """Returns the tokens to use to detect featuring artists in strings."""
 
-    FEAT_SPECIAL_CHARS = ['&', 'feat.', 'ft.']
-    FEAT_WORDS = ['ft', 'featuring', 'feat']
+    feat_special_chars = ['&', 'feat.', 'ft.']
+    feat_words = ['ft', 'featuring', 'feat']
     if for_artist:  # appending to artist name enables more tokens
-        FEAT_WORDS += ['with', 'vs', 'and', 'con']
-    regex = r'(%s)' % '|'.join(['\\b%s\\b' % re.escape(x) for x in FEAT_WORDS])
+        feat_words += ['with', 'vs', 'and', 'con']
+    regex = r'%s' % '|'.join(['\\b%s\\b' % re.escape(x) for x in feat_words])
     if for_artist:
-        regex = r'(%s|%s)' % \
-            ('|'.join([re.escape(x) for x in FEAT_SPECIAL_CHARS]), regex)
+        regex = r'%s|%s' % \
+            ('|'.join([re.escape(x) for x in feat_special_chars]), regex)
     return regex
diff --git a/beetsplug/ftintitle.py b/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
index 96d1f54c9..e83836e0e 100644
--- a/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
+++ b/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def split_on_feat(artist):
     may be a string or None if none is present.
     """
     # split on the first "feat".
-    regex = re.compile(feat_tokens().translate(None, '()'), re.IGNORECASE)
+    regex = re.compile(feat_tokens(), re.IGNORECASE)
     parts = [s.strip() for s in regex.split(artist, 1)]
     if len(parts) == 1:
         return parts[0], None
diff --git a/beetsplug/lyrics.py b/beetsplug/lyrics.py
index a90e3d645..976aaf5c5 100644
--- a/beetsplug/lyrics.py
+++ b/beetsplug/lyrics.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def search_pairs(item):
     artists = [artist]
 
     # Remove any featuring artists from the artists name
-    pattern = r"(.*?) %s" % feat_tokens()
+    pattern = r"(.*?) (%s)" % feat_tokens()
     match = re.search(pattern, artist, re.IGNORECASE)
     if match:
         artists.append(match.group(1))
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def search_pairs(item):
         titles.append(match.group(1))
 
     # Remove any featuring artists from the title
-    pattern = r"(.*?) %s" % feat_tokens(for_artist=False)
+    pattern = r"(.*?) (%s)" % feat_tokens(for_artist=False)
     for title in titles[:]:
         match = re.search(pattern, title, re.IGNORECASE)
         if match: