diff --git a/lib/libc/regex/regcomp.c b/lib/libc/regex/regcomp.c
index bf92f2c07460..602ddb01333e 100644
--- a/lib/libc/regex/regcomp.c
+++ b/lib/libc/regex/regcomp.c
@@ -2045,7 +2045,8 @@ struct re_guts *g;
 			    g->mlen + ssuffix - suffix);
                         suffix++;
                 }
-                ssuffix = pmatches[ssuffix];
+		if (suffix < g->mlen)
+                	ssuffix = pmatches[ssuffix];
         }
 
 	free(pmatches);