diff --git a/setuptools/package_index.py b/setuptools/package_index.py
index 123e958..a90b810 100644
--- a/setuptools/package_index.py
+++ b/setuptools/package_index.py
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ def unique_values(func):
     return wrapper
 
 
-REL = re.compile(r"""<([^>]*\srel\s*=\s*['"]?([^'">]+)[^>]*)>""", re.I)
+REL = re.compile(r"""<([^>]*\srel\s{0,10}=\s{0,10}['"]?([^'" >]+)[^>]*)>""", re.I)
 # this line is here to fix emacs' cruddy broken syntax highlighting