diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index 83763061d82..e1fb7532b85 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ char_quoted (charpos, bytepos)
 
   DEC_BOTH (charpos, bytepos);
 
-  while (bytepos >= beg)
+  while (charpos >= beg)
     {
       int c;