diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 3f60f4c..d5ca1e6 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ class ArgError extends Error {
 	}
 }
 
+// Same acceptance as /^-?\d*(\.(?=\d))?\d*$/ without nested optional
+// digit runs that backtrack on long non matching input (ReDoS).
+function looksLikeNumber(str) {
+	return /^-?\d*(?:\.\d+)?$/.test(str);
+}
+
 function arg(
 	opts,
 	{
@@ -153,7 +159,7 @@ function arg(
 						(argv[i + 1].length > 1 &&
 							argv[i + 1][0] === '-' &&
 							!(
-								argv[i + 1].match(/^-?\d*(\.(?=\d))?\d*$/) &&
+								looksLikeNumber(argv[i + 1]) &&
 								(type === Number ||
 									// eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
 									(typeof BigInt !== 'undefined' && type === BigInt))
diff --git a/test.js b/test.js
index 49e638f..d076cc4 100644
--- a/test.js
+++ b/test.js
@@ -551,3 +551,24 @@ test('should error if negative numeric argument is passed to non-negative argume
 		)
 	).to.throw(arg.ArgError, 'option requires argument: --str');
 });
+
+test('should parse negative decimal numbers as option values', () => {
+	const argv = ['--num', '-1.5'];
+
+	expect(arg({ '--num': Number }, { argv })).to.deep.equal({
+		_: [],
+		'--num': -1.5
+	});
+});
+
+test('should reject long non numeric option values without hanging', () => {
+	const argv = ['--foo', `-${'0'.repeat(20000)}-`];
+	const start = Date.now();
+
+	expect(() => arg({ '--foo': Number }, { argv })).to.throw(
+		arg.ArgError,
+		'option requires argument: --foo'
+	);
+
+	expect(Date.now() - start).to.be.below(1000);
+});