diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/expand_hosts.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/expand_hosts.py
index a1db9f1c6a..b1cc0dcb82 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/expand_hosts.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/expand_hosts.py
@@ -41,10 +41,7 @@ def detect_range(line = None):
 
     Returnes True if the given line contains a pattern, else False.
     '''
-    if (line.find("[") != -1 and
-        line.find(":") != -1 and
-        line.find("]") != -1 and
-        line.index("[") < line.index(":") < line.index("]")):
+    if 0 <= line.find("[") < line.find(":") < line.find("]"):
         return True
     else:
         return False