diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 97c2ceb05..3836fea9a 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use atty::Stream;
 use clap::{CommandFactory, Parser};
 use globset::GlobBuilder;
 use lscolors::LsColors;
-use regex::bytes::{RegexBuilder, RegexSetBuilder};
+use regex::bytes::{RegexBuilder, RegexSetBuilder, Regex};
 
 use crate::cli::{ColorWhen, Opts};
 use crate::config::Config;
@@ -84,35 +84,24 @@ fn run() -> Result<ExitCode> {
     let pattern = &opts.pattern;
     let exprs = &opts.exprs;
     let empty = Vec::new();
-    let patterns = exprs
+
+    let pattern_regexps = exprs
         .as_ref()
         .unwrap_or(&empty)
-        .into_iter()
-        .chain(vec![pattern])
-        .collect::<Vec<&String>>();
-    let pattern_regexps = patterns
         .iter()
-        .map(|pat| {
-            let re = build_pattern_regex(pat, &opts);
-            match re {
-                Ok(r) => r,
-                Err(e) => panic!("Bad pattern: {}", e),
-            }
-        })
-        .collect::<Vec<String>>();
+        .chain([pattern])
+        .map(|pat| { build_pattern_regex(pat, &opts) })
+        .collect::<Result<Vec<String>>>()?;
 
     let config = construct_config(opts, &pattern_regexps)?;
+    
     ensure_use_hidden_option_for_leading_dot_pattern(&config, &pattern_regexps)?;
+    
     let regexps = pattern_regexps
         .iter()
-        .map(|pat| {
-            let regex = build_regex(pat.to_string(), &config);
-            match regex {
-                Ok(r) => r,
-                Err(e) => panic!("Bad regex: {}", e),
-            }
-        })
-        .collect();
+        .map(|pat| { build_regex(pat.to_string(), &config) })
+        .collect::<Result<Vec<Regex>>>()?;
+    
     walk::scan(&search_paths, Arc::new(regexps), Arc::new(config))
 }
 
@@ -192,7 +181,7 @@ fn check_path_separator_length(path_separator: Option<&str>) -> Result<()> {
     }
 }
 
-fn construct_config(mut opts: Opts, pattern_regexps: &Vec<String>) -> Result<Config> {
+fn construct_config(mut opts: Opts, pattern_regexps: &[String]) -> Result<Config> {
     // The search will be case-sensitive if the command line flag is set or
     // if the pattern has an uppercase character (smart case).
     let case_sensitive = !opts.ignore_case
@@ -438,7 +427,7 @@ fn extract_time_constraints(opts: &Opts) -> Result<Vec<TimeFilter>> {
 
 fn ensure_use_hidden_option_for_leading_dot_pattern(
     config: &Config,
-    pattern_regexps: &Vec<String>,
+    pattern_regexps: &[String],
 ) -> Result<()> {
     if cfg!(unix)
         && config.ignore_hidden