diff --git a/runtime/doc/makehtml.awk b/runtime/doc/makehtml.awk
index 5e40069..40154b0 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/makehtml.awk
+++ b/runtime/doc/makehtml.awk
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 #
 #ad hoc code
 #
-/^"\|\& / {gsub(/\|/,"\\&#124;"); }
+/^"\|& / {gsub(/\|/,"\\&#124;"); }
 / = b / {gsub(/ b /," \\&#98; "); }
 #
 # one letter tag