diff --git a/lisp/calc/calc-prog.el b/lisp/calc/calc-prog.el
index 3ea68584b4b..84bcbdd7a8b 100644
--- a/lisp/calc/calc-prog.el
+++ b/lisp/calc/calc-prog.el
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@
 (defun calc-macro-edit-variable (&optional no-cmd)
   (let ((str "") ch)
     (or no-cmd (insert (symbol-name key-symbol) "\n"))
-    (if (memq (MacEdit-peek-char) '(?\+ ?\- ?\* ?\/ ?\^ ?\|))
+    (if (memq (MacEdit-peek-char) '(?\+ ?\- ?\* ?\/ ?^ ?\|))
 	(setq str (char-to-string (MacEdit-read-char))))
     (if (and (setq ch (MacEdit-peek-char))
 	     (>= ch ?0) (<= ch ?9))