diff --git a/akka-bbb-apps/src/main/scala/org/bigbluebutton/core/models/VoiceUsers.scala b/akka-bbb-apps/src/main/scala/org/bigbluebutton/core/models/VoiceUsers.scala
index 47ca576a4e..abac75842b 100755
--- a/akka-bbb-apps/src/main/scala/org/bigbluebutton/core/models/VoiceUsers.scala
+++ b/akka-bbb-apps/src/main/scala/org/bigbluebutton/core/models/VoiceUsers.scala
@@ -16,7 +16,15 @@ object VoiceUsers {
   }
 
   def findWithIntIdAndCallerNum(users: VoiceUsers, intId: String, callerNum: String): Option[VoiceUserState] = {
-    users.toVector.find(u => u.callerNum == callerNum && u.intId == intId)
+    // prlanzarin: This is a hack to allow for partial matching of callerNums.
+    // This is needed because the callerNums are incorrectly generated by
+    // FREESWITCH's ESL events when special characters are in place.
+    // e.g.: w_etc_0-bbbID-User;Semi (notice the semicolon) will be generated by
+    // FS as w_etc_0-bbbID-User (everything after the semicolon is ignored).
+    // We should review callerNum generation in the future as well as stop
+    // relying on it for session matching (use UUIDs or client session numbers instead).
+    users.toVector.find(u => u.intId == intId &&
+      (u.callerNum.startsWith(callerNum) || callerNum.startsWith(u.callerNum)))
   }
 
   def findAll(users: VoiceUsers): Vector[VoiceUserState] = users.toVector