diff --git a/netbox/extras/api/views.py b/netbox/extras/api/views.py
index 381956145..167a28881 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/api/views.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/api/views.py
@@ -59,7 +59,9 @@ class TopologyMapView(APIView):
                 graph.add_edge(pydot.Edge('set{}'.format(i - 1), 'set{}'.format(i), style='invis'))
 
             # Add each device to the graph
-            devices = Device.objects.filter(name__regex=device_set)
+            devices = []
+            for query in device_set.split(','):
+                devices += Device.objects.filter(name__regex=query)
             for d in devices:
                 node = pydot.Node(d.name)
                 subgraph.add_node(node)
@@ -75,8 +77,9 @@ class TopologyMapView(APIView):
 
         # Compile list of all devices
         device_superset = Q()
-        for regex in tmap.device_sets:
-            device_superset = device_superset | Q(name__regex=regex)
+        for device_set in tmap.device_sets:
+            for query in device_set.split(','):
+                device_superset = device_superset | Q(name__regex=query)
 
         # Add all connections to the graph
         devices = Device.objects.filter(*(device_superset,))
diff --git a/netbox/extras/models.py b/netbox/extras/models.py
index df5433519..0fff7fa2b 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/models.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/models.py
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@ class TopologyMap(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=50, unique=True)
     slug = models.SlugField(unique=True)
     site = models.ForeignKey(Site, related_name='topology_maps', blank=True, null=True)
-    device_patterns = models.TextField()
+    device_patterns = models.TextField(help_text="Identify devices to include in the diagram using regular expressions,"
+                                                 "one per line. Each line will result in a new tier of the drawing. "
+                                                 "Separate multiple regexes on a line using commas. Devices will be "
+                                                 "rendered in the order they are defined.")
     description = models.CharField(max_length=100, blank=True)
 
     class Meta: