diff --git a/src/spellfile.c b/src/spellfile.c
index f34d9ba..4b36442 100644
--- a/src/spellfile.c
+++ b/src/spellfile.c
@@ -260,6 +260,8 @@
 				 * follow; never used in prefix tree */
 #define BY_SPECIAL  BY_FLAGS2	/* highest special byte value */
 
+#define ZERO_FLAG	65009	// used when flag is zero: "0"
+
 /* Flags used in .spl file for soundsalike flags. */
 #define SAL_F0LLOWUP		1
 #define SAL_COLLAPSE		2
@@ -3182,6 +3184,7 @@
 
 /*
  * Get one affix name from "*pp" and advance the pointer.
+ * Returns ZERO_FLAG for "0".
  * Returns zero for an error, still advances the pointer then.
  */
     static unsigned
@@ -3197,6 +3200,8 @@
 	    return 0;
 	}
 	res = getdigits(pp);
+	if (res == 0)
+	    res = ZERO_FLAG;
     }
     else
     {
@@ -3343,6 +3348,8 @@
 	    for (p = afflist; *p != NUL; )
 	    {
 		n = getdigits(&p);
+		if (n == 0)
+		    n = ZERO_FLAG;
 		if (n == flag)
 		    return TRUE;
 		if (*p != NUL)	/* skip over comma */
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_spell.vim b/src/testdir/test_spell.vim
index 146e421..c3b2d44 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_spell.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_spell.vim
@@ -290,9 +290,9 @@
         \ ])
 
   call LoadAffAndDic(g:test_data_aff7, g:test_data_dic7)
-  call RunGoodBad("meea1 meea\xE9 bar prebar barmeat prebarmeat  leadprebar lead tail leadtail  leadmiddletail",
+  call RunGoodBad("meea1 meezero meea\xE9 bar prebar barmeat prebarmeat  leadprebar lead tail leadtail  leadmiddletail",
         \ "bad: mee meea2 prabar probarmaat middle leadmiddle middletail taillead leadprobar",
-        \ ["bar", "barmeat", "lead", "meea1", "meea\xE9", "prebar", "prebarmeat", "tail"],
+        \ ["bar", "barmeat", "lead", "meea1", "meea\xE9", "meezero", "prebar", "prebarmeat", "tail"],
         \ [
         \   ["bad", ["bar", "lead", "tail"]],
         \   ["mee", ["meea1", "meea\xE9", "bar"]],
@@ -746,6 +746,9 @@
       \"SFX 61003 Y 1",
       \"SFX 61003 0 meat .",
       \"",
+      \"SFX 0 Y 1",
+      \"SFX 0 0 zero .",
+      \"",
       \"SFX 391 Y 1",
       \"SFX 391 0 a1 .",
       \"",
@@ -757,7 +760,7 @@
       \ ]
 let g:test_data_dic7 = [
       \"1234",
-      \"mee/391,111,9999",
+      \"mee/0,391,111,9999",
       \"bar/17,61003,123",
       \"lead/2",
       \"tail/123",
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 3cc9879..2db75aa 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -742,6 +742,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    2268,
+/**/
     2267,
 /**/
     2266,