diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/hideif.el b/lisp/progmodes/hideif.el
index 4179c903275..5c97d41255e 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/hideif.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/hideif.el
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ that form should be displayed.")
 
 ; pattern to match initial identifier, !, &&, ||, (, or ).
 ; Added ==, + and -: garyo@avs.com 8/9/94
-(defconst hif-token-regexp "^\\(!\\|&&\\|||\\|[!=]=\\|[()+-]\\|\\w+\\)")
+(defconst hif-token-regexp "^\\(&&\\|||\\|[!=]=\\|!\\|[()+-]\\|\\w+\\)")
 (defconst hif-end-of-comment "\\*/")