diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/gst_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/gst_module.py
index f8f296e97e..b5d1c69368 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/gst_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/gst_module.py
@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ class GraphicalSliderToolModule(XModule):
         plot_div = '<div class="{element_class}_plot" id="{element_id}_plot" \
                     style="{style}"></div>'
         # extract css style from plot
-        plot_def = re.search(r'\$plot[^\$]*\$', html_string)
+        plot_def = re.search(r'\<plot[^\$]*\>', html_string)
         if plot_def:
             plot_def = plot_def.group()
-            style = re.search(r'(?=.*style\=[\"\'](.*)[\"\'])', plot_def,
+            style = re.search(r'(?=[^\$]*style\=[\"\'](.*)[\"\'])', plot_def,
                 flags=re.UNICODE | re.DOTALL)
             if style:
                 style = style.groups()[0]
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class GraphicalSliderToolModule(XModule):
                      </div>'
         for var in variables:
             # find $slider var='var' ... $
-            instances = re.findall(r'\$slider\s+(?=.*var\=[\"\']' + var + '[\"\'])' \
+            instances = re.findall(r'\$slider\s+(?=[^\$]*var\=[\"\']' + var + '[\"\'])' \
                           + r'[^\$]*\$', html_string, flags=re.UNICODE | re.DOTALL)
             if instances:  # if presented, only one slider per var
                 slider_def = instances[0]  # get $slider var='var' ... $ string
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class GraphicalSliderToolModule(XModule):
                                           slider_def).group()
                 slider_def = slider_def.replace(var_substring, '')
                 # get style
-                style = re.search(r'(?=.*style\=[\"\'](.*)[\"\'])', slider_def,
+                style = re.search(r'(?=[^\$]*style\=[\"\'](.*)[\"\'])', slider_def,
                     flags=re.UNICODE | re.DOTALL)
                 if style:
                     style = style.groups()[0]
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ class GraphicalSliderToolModule(XModule):
                                             var=var, style=style)
                 # subsitute $slider var='var' ... $ in html_srting to proper
                 # html div element
-                html_string = re.sub(r'\$slider\s+(?=.*var\=[\"\'](' + \
+                html_string = re.sub(r'\$slider\s+(?=[^\$]*var\=[\"\'](' + \
                     var + ')[\"\'])' + r'[^\$]*\$',
                 replacement, html_string, flags=re.UNICODE | re.DOTALL)
 
@@ -139,23 +139,24 @@ class GraphicalSliderToolModule(XModule):
         for var in variables:
             input_index = 0  # make multiple inputs for same variable have
                 # different id
-            instances = re.findall(r'\$input\s+(?=.*var\=[\"\']' + var + '[\"\'])' \
+            instances = re.findall(r'\$input\s+(?=[^\$]*var\=[\"\']' + var + '[\"\'])' \
                           + r'[^\$]*\$', html_string, flags=re.UNICODE | re.DOTALL)
             # import ipdb; ipdb.set_trace()
             for input_def in instances:  # for multiple inputs per var
                 input_index += 1
                 # extract var and readonly before style!
+                # import ipdb; ipdb.set_trace()
                 var_substring = re.search(r'(var\=[\"\']' + var + r'[\"\'])',
                                           input_def).group()
                 input_def = input_def.replace(var_substring, '')
-                readonly = re.search(r'(?=.*(readonly\=[\"\'](\w+)[\"\']))', 
+                readonly = re.search(r'(?=[^\$]*(readonly\=[\"\'](\w+)[\"\']))', 
                     input_def, flags=re.UNICODE | re.DOTALL)
                 if readonly:
                     input_def = input_def.replace(readonly.groups()[0], '')
                     readonly = readonly.groups()[1]
                 else:
                     readonly = ''
-                style = re.search(r'(?=.*style\=[\"\'](.*)[\"\'])', input_def,
+                style = re.search(r'(?=[^\$]*style\=[\"\'](.*)[\"\'])', input_def,
                     flags=re.UNICODE | re.DOTALL)
                 if style:
                     style = style.groups()[0]
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ class GraphicalSliderToolModule(XModule):
                         var=var, readonly=readonly, style=style,
                         input_index=input_index)
                 # import ipdb; ipdb.set_trace()
-                html_string = re.sub(r'\$input\s+(?=.*var\=[\"\'](' + \
+                html_string = re.sub(r'\$input\s+(?=[^\$]*var\=[\"\'](' + \
                                      var + ')[\"\'])' + r'[^\$]*\$',
                 replacement, html_string, count=1, flags=re.UNICODE | re.DOTALL)
         return html_string