diff --git a/app/controllers/purl_controller.rb b/app/controllers/purl_controller.rb
index d08c297a..3a6dbf5a 100644
--- a/app/controllers/purl_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/purl_controller.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ def formats
 
   private
     FILESET_LOOKUPS = { FileSet => nil }.freeze
-    DEFAULT_WORK_PATTERN = /^[a-zA-Z\/]{0,}\w{2,}\d{3,}-{0,}\d{0,}$/.freeze
+    purl_regex = ESSI.config.dig(:essi, :purl_validation_regex) || '^[a-zA-Z\d\/-]{0,}$'
+    DEFAULT_WORK_PATTERN = /#{purl_regex}/.freeze
     DEFAULT_WORK_LOOKUPS = Hyrax.config.registered_curation_concern_types.sort.map do |klass|
       [klass.constantize, DEFAULT_WORK_PATTERN.dup]
     end.to_h.freeze
diff --git a/config/essi_config.docker.yml b/config/essi_config.docker.yml
index 73aa0d99..d9517f96 100644
--- a/config/essi_config.docker.yml
+++ b/config/essi_config.docker.yml
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ default: &default
     kdu_compress_path: 'opj_compress' # set as kdu_compress or opj_compress, or '' to use ImageMagick
     master_file_service_url: http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/variations/master
     purl_redirect_url: /concern/works/%s
+    purl_validation_regex: '^[a-zA-Z\d\/-]{0,}$'
     skip_derivatives: false
     derivatives_folder: 'staged_files'
     derivatives_type_suffix: true
diff --git a/config/essi_config.example.yml b/config/essi_config.example.yml
index bd499089..768a1d30 100644
--- a/config/essi_config.example.yml
+++ b/config/essi_config.example.yml
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ default: &default
     kdu_compress_path: '' # set as kdu_compress or opj_compress, or '' to use ImageMagick
     master_file_service_url: http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/variations/master
     purl_redirect_url: /concern/works/%s
+    purl_validation_regex: '^[a-zA-Z\d\/-]{0,}$'
     skip_derivatives: false
     derivatives_folder: 'staged_files'
     derivatives_type_suffix: true