diff --git a/src/ex_cmds.c b/src/ex_cmds.c
index 10c8e61..1404526 100644
--- a/src/ex_cmds.c
+++ b/src/ex_cmds.c
@@ -4975,6 +4975,8 @@
 	    // a match on this line?
 	    match = vim_regexec_multi(&regmatch, curwin, curbuf, lnum,
 						       (colnr_T)0, NULL, NULL);
+	    if (regmatch.regprog == NULL)
+		break;  // re-compiling regprog failed
 	    if ((type == 'g' && match) || (type == 'v' && !match))
 	    {
 		ml_setmarked(lnum);