diff --git a/falcon/request_helpers.py b/falcon/request_helpers.py
index 8b6b1e9..c60e0ed 100644
--- a/falcon/request_helpers.py
+++ b/falcon/request_helpers.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 import re
 
 
-QS_PATTERN = re.compile(r'(?<![0-9])([a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z_0-9\-]*)=([^&]+)')
+QS_PATTERN = re.compile(r'(?<![0-9])([a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z_0-9\-.]*)=([^&]+)')
 """Match query string fields that have names which start with a letter."""
 
 
diff --git a/falcon/tests/test_query_params.py b/falcon/tests/test_query_params.py
index 0a5cd12..9fedc0e 100644
--- a/falcon/tests/test_query_params.py
+++ b/falcon/tests/test_query_params.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class TestQueryParams(testing.TestBase):
 
     def test_allowed_names(self):
         query_string = ('p=0&p1=23&2p=foo&some-thing=that&blank=&some_thing=x&'
-                        '-bogus=foo')
+                        '-bogus=foo&more.things=blah')
         self.simulate_request('/', query_string=query_string)
 
         req = self.resource.req
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ class TestQueryParams(testing.TestBase):
         self.assertIs(req.get_param('blank'), None)
         self.assertEquals(req.get_param('some_thing'), 'x')
         self.assertIs(req.get_param('-bogus'), None)
+        self.assertEquals(req.get_param('more.things'), 'blah')
 
     def test_required(self):
         query_string = ''