diff --git a/src/regexp.c b/src/regexp.c
index c3bc496..7355201 100644
--- a/src/regexp.c
+++ b/src/regexp.c
@@ -1318,6 +1318,10 @@
 	    top = curbuf->b_visual.vi_end;
 	    bot = curbuf->b_visual.vi_start;
 	}
+	// a substitue command may have
+	// removed some lines
+	if (bot.lnum > curbuf->b_ml.ml_line_count)
+	    bot.lnum = curbuf->b_ml.ml_line_count;
 	mode = curbuf->b_visual.vi_mode;
 	curswant = curbuf->b_visual.vi_curswant;
     }