diff --git a/git-secrets b/git-secrets
index 48cf6c8..123dca2 100755
--- a/git-secrets
+++ b/git-secrets
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ load_allowed() {
 load_combined_patterns() {
   local patterns=$(load_patterns)
   local combined_patterns=''
-  for pattern in $patterns; do
+  while IFS=$'\n' read -r pattern; do
     combined_patterns=${combined_patterns}${pattern}"|"
-  done
+  done <<< "${patterns}"
   combined_patterns=${combined_patterns%?}
   echo $combined_patterns
 }