diff --git a/contrib/lisp/org-export-generic.el b/contrib/lisp/org-export-generic.el
index 93755d7b4..4be0a20d2 100644
--- a/contrib/lisp/org-export-generic.el
+++ b/contrib/lisp/org-export-generic.el
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ underlined headlines.  The default is 3."
     (org-init-section-numbers)
     (org-export-generic-check-section "top")
     (while (setq line (pop lines))
-      (when (and link-buffer (string-match "^\\*+ " line))
+      (when (and link-buffer (string-match org-outline-regexp-bol line))
 	(org-export-generic-push-links (nreverse link-buffer))
 	(setq link-buffer nil))
       (setq wrap nil)
diff --git a/contrib/lisp/org-lparse.el b/contrib/lisp/org-lparse.el
index 668772600..7665591ce 100755
--- a/contrib/lisp/org-lparse.el
+++ b/contrib/lisp/org-lparse.el
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ version."
       (while (setq line (pop lines) origline line)
 	(catch 'nextline
 	  (when (and (org-lparse-current-environment-p 'quote)
-		     (string-match "^\\*+ " line))
+		     (string-match org-outline-regexp-bol line))
 	    (org-lparse-end-environment 'quote))
 
 	  (when (org-lparse-current-environment-p 'quote)
diff --git a/contrib/lisp/org-toc.el b/contrib/lisp/org-toc.el
index 2c5eb9c67..67e408e62 100644
--- a/contrib/lisp/org-toc.el
+++ b/contrib/lisp/org-toc.el
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ specified, then make `org-toc-recenter' use this value."
 (defun org-toc-before-first-heading-p ()
   "Before first heading?"
   (save-excursion
-    (null (re-search-backward "^\\*+ " nil t))))
+    (null (re-search-backward org-outline-regexp-bol nil t))))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun org-toc-show (&optional depth position)
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ specified, then make `org-toc-recenter' use this value."
   (let ((pos (or position
 		 (save-excursion
 		   (if (org-toc-before-first-heading-p)
-		       (progn (re-search-forward "^\\*+ " nil t)
+		       (progn (re-search-forward org-outline-regexp-bol nil t)
 			      (match-beginning 0))
 		     (point))))))
     (setq org-toc-cycle-global-status org-cycle-global-status)
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ status."
       (goto-char (point-min))
       (while (and (not (eobp))
 		  (goto-char (next-overlay-change (point))))
-	(when (looking-at "^\\*+ ")
+	(when (looking-at org-outline-regexp-bol)
 	  (add-to-list
 	   'output
 	   (cons (buffer-substring-no-properties