Hello Monks, I'm working on a script that requires several user inputs. While attempting to validate the input, I've come accross a problem. I've successfully written validations for all but one of those inputs. I'm asking for a Customer Abbreviation and then check to make sure the input is either 3 or 4 characters long (can be letters and/or numbers). Here is what I came up with: 
print "Customer abbreviation:         ";
$cust = <STDIN>;
print "\n";
chomp ($cust);

until($cust =~ <\w{3,4}>) {
    print "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\n";
    print "!!!                                        !!!\n";
    print "!!! ABBREVIATION MUST BE 3 OR 4 CHARACTERS !!!\n";
    print "!!!                                        !!!\n";
    print "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\n";
    print "\n";
    print "Customer abbreviation:         ";
    $cust = <STDIN>;

    chomp ($cust);
    print "\n";
    }

[download]
for some reason, if a valid pattern is entered, it still asks to re-enter three times. Also, if I continue to enter an invalid pattern (2 or 5 characters), after looping twice it will continue to ask for the remainder of the inputs, as shown here: 
Customer abbreviation:          AB

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!                                        !!!
!!! ABBREVIATION MUST BE 3 OR 4 CHARACTERS !!!
!!!                                        !!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Customer abbreviation:          AB

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!                                        !!!
!!! ABBREVIATION MUST BE 3 OR 4 CHARACTERS !!!
!!!                                        !!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Customer abbreviation:          AB

BAN Number:

[download]
Any and all wisdom is greatly appreciated.

In reply to problem with pattern match by ddrew78

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