diff --git a/runtime/doc/pattern.txt b/runtime/doc/pattern.txt
index 7de1824..50fd53c 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/pattern.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/pattern.txt
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@
 1. An old, backtracking engine that supports everything.
 2. A new, NFA engine that works much faster on some patterns, possibly slower
    on some patterns.
-
+								 *E1281*
 Vim will automatically select the right engine for you.  However, if you run
 into a problem or want to specifically select one engine or the other, you can
 prepend one of the following to the pattern:
diff --git a/src/errors.h b/src/errors.h
index 526c5f7..7a21cee 100644
--- a/src/errors.h
+++ b/src/errors.h
@@ -3277,3 +3277,5 @@
 EXTERN char e_illegal_character_in_word[]
 	INIT(= N_("E1280: Illegal character in word"));
 #endif
+EXTERN char e_atom_engine_must_be_at_start_of_pattern[]
+	INIT(= N_("E1281: Atom '\\%%#=%c' must be at the start of the pattern"));
diff --git a/src/regexp_bt.c b/src/regexp_bt.c
index 18bad80..698ff04 100644
--- a/src/regexp_bt.c
+++ b/src/regexp_bt.c
@@ -1503,6 +1503,14 @@
 		    break;
 
 		case '#':
+		    if (regparse[0] == '=' && regparse[1] >= 48
+							  && regparse[1] <= 50)
+		    {
+			// misplaced \%#=1
+			semsg(_(e_atom_engine_must_be_at_start_of_pattern),
+								  regparse[1]);
+			return FAIL;
+		    }
 		    ret = regnode(CURSOR);
 		    break;
 
diff --git a/src/regexp_nfa.c b/src/regexp_nfa.c
index 2c79a49..511b904 100644
--- a/src/regexp_nfa.c
+++ b/src/regexp_nfa.c
@@ -1592,6 +1592,14 @@
 		    break;
 
 		case '#':
+		    if (regparse[0] == '=' && regparse[1] >= 48
+							  && regparse[1] <= 50)
+		    {
+			// misplaced \%#=1
+			semsg(_(e_atom_engine_must_be_at_start_of_pattern),
+								  regparse[1]);
+			return FAIL;
+		    }
 		    EMIT(NFA_CURSOR);
 		    break;
 
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_regexp_latin.vim b/src/testdir/test_regexp_latin.vim
index 0b288f6..1fe4699 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_regexp_latin.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_regexp_latin.vim
@@ -1096,4 +1096,22 @@
   bwipe!
 endfunc
 
+func Test_using_two_engines_pattern()
+  new
+  call setline(1, ['foobar=0', 'foobar=1', 'foobar=2'])
+  " \%#= at the end of the pattern
+  for i in range(0, 2)
+    call cursor( (i+1), 7) 
+    call assert_fails("%s/foobar\\%#=" .. i, 'E1281:')
+  endfor
+
+  " \%#= at the start of the pattern
+  for i in range(0, 2)
+    call cursor( (i+1), 7) 
+    exe ":%s/\\%#=" .. i .. "foobar=" .. i .. "/xx"
+  endfor
+  call assert_equal(['xx', 'xx', 'xx'], getline(1, '$'))
+  bwipe!
+endfunc
+
 " vim: shiftwidth=2 sts=2 expandtab
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 782642b..854de45 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -747,6 +747,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    4978,
+/**/
     4977,
 /**/
     4976,