diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index 4246058..355d41c 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -3086,6 +3086,12 @@
 	col = regmatch->startpos[0].col;
 	off = spp->sp_offsets[idx];
     }
+    if (result->lnum > syn_buf->b_ml.ml_line_count)
+    {
+	/* a "\n" at the end of the pattern may take us below the last line */
+	result->lnum = syn_buf->b_ml.ml_line_count;
+	col = STRLEN(ml_get_buf(syn_buf, result->lnum, FALSE));
+    }
     if (off != 0)
     {
 	base = ml_get_buf(syn_buf, result->lnum, FALSE);