diff --git a/lisp/rect.el b/lisp/rect.el
index 5ff821abb3f..cdfd0764b99 100644
--- a/lisp/rect.el
+++ b/lisp/rect.el
@@ -940,7 +940,8 @@ Ignores `line-move-visual'."
          (move-to-column endcol t)
          (dotimes (_ n)
            (insert (cadr lines)))))
-     (region-beginning) (region-end))
+     (min (point) (mark))
+     (max (point) (mark)))
     ;; Recompute the rectangle state; no crutches should be needed now.
     (let ((p (point))
           (m (mark)))