diff --git a/pike.c b/pike.c
index 33989c5..f619bf5 100644
--- a/pike.c
+++ b/pike.c
@@ -513,7 +513,8 @@ for (j = 0; j < nsubp; j++) s1->sub[j] = nsub->sub[j]; \
 		npc += 2; \
 		goto rec##nn; \
 	case WBEG: \
-		if ((sp != s && isword(sp)) || !isword(_sp)) \
+		if (((sp != s || sp != _sp) && isword(sp)) \
+				|| !isword(_sp)) \
 			deccheck(nn) \
 		npc++; goto rec##nn; \
 	case WEND: \
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
index 443e2f5..7c8af63 100755
--- a/test.sh
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ qwerty.*$
 (.+)(.+)
 a(?:b|c|d){4,5}(.)
 (?:c|d)(?:)(?:a(?:)(?:b)(?:b(?:))(?:b(?:)(?:b)))
+\\\\<abc
 "
 input="\
 abcdef
@@ -229,6 +230,7 @@ abaaa
 abcd
 acdbcdbe
 cabbbb
+dabc
 "
 expect="\
 (0,3)
@@ -344,6 +346,7 @@ expect="\
 (0,4)(0,3)(3,4)
 (0,7)(6,7)
 (0,6)
+-nomatch-
 (0,0)
 "