diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/cperl-mode.el b/lisp/progmodes/cperl-mode.el
index a7c17720126..bde44cbea91 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/cperl-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/cperl-mode.el
@@ -5980,7 +5980,7 @@ Currently it is tuned to C and Perl syntax."
 	   (and (eq (following-char) ?\-)
 		(save-excursion
 		  (skip-chars-backward " \t\n")
-		  (memq (preceding-char) '(?\= ?\> ?\< ?\, ?\(, ?\[, ?\{))))
+		  (memq (preceding-char) '(?\= ?\> ?\< ?\, ?\( ?\[ ?\{))))
 	   ;; Now check for syntax type
 	   (save-match-data
 	     (setq found (point))