diff --git a/src/ops.c b/src/ops.c
index 845211d..2c054d9 100644
--- a/src/ops.c
+++ b/src/ops.c
@@ -6458,7 +6458,7 @@
     long	chars = 0;
     int		is_word = 0;
 
-    for (i = 0; line[i] && i < limit; )
+    for (i = 0; i < limit && line[i] != NUL; )
     {
 	if (is_word)
 	{