diff --git a/src/structs.h b/src/structs.h
index 36339c4..b5341e3 100644
--- a/src/structs.h
+++ b/src/structs.h
@@ -4795,6 +4795,7 @@
 typedef struct spat
 {
     char_u	    *pat;	// the pattern (in allocated memory) or NULL
+    size_t	    patlen;	// the length of the patten (0 is pat is NULL)
     int		    magic;	// magicness of the pattern
     int		    no_scs;	// no smartcase for this pattern
     soffset_T	    off;