diff --git a/lisp/eshell/esh-var.el b/lisp/eshell/esh-var.el
index 5d7ea1c3664..d53ae997cdf 100644
--- a/lisp/eshell/esh-var.el
+++ b/lisp/eshell/esh-var.el
@@ -840,10 +840,10 @@ START and END."
   (let ((arg (pcomplete-actual-arg)))
     (when (string-match
            (rx "$" (? (or "#" "@"))
-               (? (or (group-n 1 (regexp eshell-variable-name-regexp)
-                               string-end)
-                      (seq (group-n 2 (or "'" "\""))
-                           (group-n 1 (+ anychar))))))
+               (or (group-n 1 (? (regexp eshell-variable-name-regexp))
+                            string-end)
+                   (seq (group-n 2 (or "'" "\""))
+                        (group-n 1 (+ anychar)))))
            arg)
       (setq pcomplete-stub (substring arg (match-beginning 1)))
       (let ((delimiter (match-string 2 arg)))