diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index 4c4cbad..aa393d7 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -3182,6 +3182,7 @@
 {
     int i;
 
+    buf->b_syn_error = FALSE;	    /* clear previous error */
     buf->b_syn_ic = FALSE;	    /* Use case, by default */
     buf->b_syn_spell = SYNSPL_DEFAULT; /* default spell checking */
     buf->b_syn_containedin = FALSE;