diff --git a/TAP.idr b/TAP.idr
index fdc3459..c34cbb0 100644
--- a/TAP.idr
+++ b/TAP.idr
@@ -356,26 +356,33 @@ parameters (skipNotes : Bool)
       all id <$> traverse (\t => run' (assert_smaller tests t)) tests'
 
 
+export
+filterMatchStr : List String -> String -> List String
+filterMatchStr pats label = filter (\p => not $ p `isInfixOf` label) pats
+
 mutual
   ||| filter tests by whether a string occurs in their name or in the name of
   ||| any of their parent groups
   export
-  filterMatch : Maybe String -> List Test -> List Test
-  filterMatch Nothing    tests = tests
-  filterMatch (Just pat) tests =
-    mapMaybe (\t => filterMatch1 pat (assert_smaller tests t)) tests
+  filterMatch : List String -> List Test -> List Test
+  filterMatch []   tests = tests
+  filterMatch pats tests =
+    mapMaybe (\t => filterMatch1 pats $ assert_smaller tests t) tests
 
   ||| filter subtests by whether a string occurs in their name or in the name of
   ||| any of their parent groups. return `Nothing` if nothing remains
   export
-  filterMatch1 : String -> Test -> Maybe Test
-  filterMatch1 pat test@(One base) =
-    guard (pat `isInfixOf` base.label) $> test
-  filterMatch1 pat whole@(Group label tests) =
-    if pat `isInfixOf` label then Just whole else
-    let res = filterMatch (Just pat) tests in
-    guard (any isRealTest res) $> Group label res
-  filterMatch1 pat note@(Note _) = Just note
+  filterMatch1 : List String -> Test -> Maybe Test
+  filterMatch1 pats test@(One base) = do
+    guard $ null $ filterMatchStr pats base.label
+    pure test
+  filterMatch1 pats whole@(Group label tests) =
+    case filterMatchStr pats label of
+      []   => Just whole
+      rest => do let res = filterMatch rest tests
+                 guard $ any isRealTest res
+                 pure $ Group label res
+  filterMatch1 _ note@(Note _) = Just note
 
 
 ||| run some tests, and return `ExitSuccess` if they were all ok, and
diff --git a/TAP/Options.idr b/TAP/Options.idr
index 16e9b3f..4324e99 100644
--- a/TAP/Options.idr
+++ b/TAP/Options.idr
@@ -36,10 +36,10 @@ record Options where
   ||| which TAP version to output
   version : TAPVersion
   ||| `-F`, `--filter`:
-  ||| search for a substring in test or group names.
-  ||| if it is present in a group name then all subtests are run
-  ||| regardless of their own names
-  pattern : Maybe String
+  ||| search for substrings in test or group names.
+  ||| if there are several, then each must be present somewhere in the
+  ||| test's name or in the name of one of its parent groups
+  pattern : List String
   ||| `-c`, `--color`, `--colour`:
   ||| colour code test results and a few other things.
   ||| this is not TAP compliant so it is off by default.
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export
 defaultOpts : Options
 defaultOpts = Opts {
   version      = V13,
-  pattern      = Nothing,
+  pattern      = [],
   color        = False,
   skipComments = False
 }
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ setTapVer ver opts =
 
 private
 setFilter : String -> Mod
-setFilter str opts = pure $ {pattern := Just str} opts
+setFilter str opts = pure $ {pattern $= (str ::)} opts
 
 parameters (header : String)
  mutual