diff --git a/inputters/sil-epnf.lua b/inputters/sil-epnf.lua
index 8be206a44..4cc90196e 100644
--- a/inputters/sil-epnf.lua
+++ b/inputters/sil-epnf.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-local bits = SILE.parserBits
+local epnf = require("epnf")
+local bits = require("core.parserbits")
 
 local passthroughCommands = {
   ftl = true,
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ end
 
 -- luacheck: push ignore
 ---@diagnostic disable: undefined-global, unused-local, lowercase-global
-local function grammar (_ENV)
+local function builder (_ENV)
   local _ = WS^0
   local eol = S"\r\n"
   local specials = S"\\{}%"
@@ -92,4 +93,10 @@ local function grammar (_ENV)
     )
 end
 
-return grammar
+local grammar = epnf.define(builder)
+
+local function parser (string)
+  return epnf.parsestring(grammar, string)
+end
+
+return parser
diff --git a/inputters/sil-lpeg-re.lua b/inputters/sil-lpeg-re.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a3176024
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inputters/sil-lpeg-re.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+local lpeg = require("lpeg")
+local re = require("re")
+local bits = require("core.parserbits")
+
+local P, C, S = lpeg.P, lpeg.C, lpeg.S
+local myID = C(bits.silidentifier) / 1
+
+local wrapper = function (a) return type(a)=="table" and a or {} end
+local specials = S"{}%\\"
+
+local expression = [=[
+
+document         <- texlike_stuff !.
+
+texlike_stuff    <- {: environment / comment / texlike_text / texlike_braced_stuff / texlike_command :}*
+
+environment      <- '\begin' {:options: %parameters :}
+                   ('{' {:command: passthrough_cmd :} '}' passthrough_env_stuff pass_end /
+                    '{' {:command: %cmdID :} '}' texlike_stuff notpass_end)
+
+comment          <- ('%' (!%eol .)* %eol ) -> ''
+
+texlike_text     <- { (!%specials . / %escaped_specials)+ } -> unescapeSpecials
+
+texlike_braced_stuff <- '{' texlike_stuff '}'
+
+texlike_command  <- '\' ({:command: passthrough_cmd :} {:options: %parameters :}
+                    passthrough_braced_stuff / {:command: %cmdID :} {:options: %parameters :}
+                    texlike_braced_stuff)
+
+passthrough_cmd  <- 'ftl' / 'lua' / 'math' / 'raw' / 'script' / 'sil' / 'use' / 'xml'
+
+passthrough_stuff <- { {: passthrough_text / passthrough_debraced_stuff :} }
+
+passthrough_env_stuff <- {: passthrough_env_text :}*
+
+passthrough_text <- { [^{}]+ }
+
+passthrough_env_text <- { (!('\end{' =command '}') .)+ }
+
+passthrough_braced_stuff <- '{' passthrough_stuff '}'
+
+passthrough_debraced_stuff <- { passthrough_braced_stuff }
+
+notpass_end <- '\end{' =command '}' _
+
+pass_end <- '\end{' =command '}' _
+
+_   <- %s*
+
+]=]
+
+local grammar = re.compile(expression, {
+  unescapeSpecials = function (str)
+    return str:gsub('\\([{}%%\\])', '%1')
+  end,
+  cmdID = myID - P"begin" - P"end",
+  parameters = (P"[" * bits.parameters * P"]")^-1 / wrapper,
+  eol = S"\r\n",
+  specials = specials,
+  escaped_specials = P"\\" * specials
+})
+
+local function parser (string)
+  return re.match(string, grammar)
+end
+
+return parser
diff --git a/inputters/sil.lua b/inputters/sil.lua
index f37fa4e22..4cc8fe4d3 100644
--- a/inputters/sil.lua
+++ b/inputters/sil.lua
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 local base = require("inputters.base")
 
-local epnf = require("epnf")
+local usere = SU.boolean(_G["SIL_USE_RE"], false)
+local parser = require("inputters.sil-" .. (usere and "lpeg-re" or "epnf"))
 
 local inputter = pl.class(base)
 inputter._name = "sil"
 
 inputter.order = 50
 
-inputter._grammar = require("inputters.sil-epnf")
-
 inputter.appropriate = function (round, filename, doc)
   if round == 1 then
     return filename:match(".sil$")
@@ -17,8 +16,7 @@ inputter.appropriate = function (round, filename, doc)
     local promising = sniff:match("\\begin") or sniff:match("\\document") or sniff:match("\\sile")
     return promising and inputter.appropriate(3, filename, doc) or false
   elseif round == 3 then
-    local _parser = epnf.define(inputter._grammar)
-    local status, _ = pcall(epnf.parsestring, _parser, doc)
+    local status, _ = pcall(parser, doc)
     return status
   end
 end
@@ -26,7 +24,7 @@ end
 function inputter:_init ()
   -- Save time when parsing strings by only setting up the grammar once per
   -- instantiation then re-using it on every use.
-  self._parser = self:rebuildParser()
+  self._parser = parser
   base._init(self)
 end
 
@@ -113,12 +111,8 @@ local function massage_ast (tree, doc)
   end
 end
 
-function inputter:rebuildParser ()
-  return epnf.define(self._grammar)
-end
-
 function inputter:parse (doc)
-  local status, result = pcall(epnf.parsestring, self._parser, doc)
+  local status, result = pcall(self._parser, doc)
   if not status then
     return SU.error(([[Unable to parse input document to an AST tree. Parser error: