diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index d7aa592..6d245ca 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -1385,7 +1385,7 @@
 	    char_u	*trunc;
 
 	    if (*searchstr == NUL)
-		p = spats[last_idx].pat;
+		p = spats[0].pat;
 	    else
 		p = searchstr;
 	    msgbuf = alloc((unsigned)(STRLEN(p) + 40));