diff --git a/ed.chared.c b/ed.chared.c
index c978b69f..8a78e86b 100644
--- a/ed.chared.c
+++ b/ed.chared.c
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ c_preword(Char *p, Char *low, int n, Char *delim)
     Char *new;
 
     while (prev < p) {		/* Skip initial non-word chars */
-      if (!Strchr(delim, *prev) || *(prev-1) == (Char)'\\')
+      if (!Strchr(delim, *prev) || (prev != low && *(prev-1) == (Char)'\\'))
 	break;
       prev++;
     }
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ c_preword(Char *p, Char *low, int n, Char *delim)
       new = c_endword(prev-1, p, 1, delim); /* Skip to next non-word char */
       new++;			/* Step away from end of word */
       while (new <= p) {	/* Skip trailing non-word chars */
-	if (!Strchr(delim, *new) || *(new-1) == (Char)'\\')
+	if (!Strchr(delim, *new) || new != prev && *(new-1) == (Char)'\\')
 	  break;
 	new++;
       }