diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index b5bffc3..b2b6102 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -9476,7 +9476,7 @@
     int	    cnt;
     int	    attr;
 {
-    msg_puts_attr((char_u *)("N \bI \b!  \b" + cnt / 11), attr);
+    msg_puts_attr((char_u *)&("N \bI \b!  \b"[cnt / 11]), attr);
     msg_clr_eos();
     out_flush();
     ui_delay(cnt == 99 ? 40L : (long)cnt * 50L, FALSE);