diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index 0e4f791..04e7bd4 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -467,7 +467,8 @@ yylex(void)
 			} else if (c == '\\') {
 				if ((next = lgetc(quotec)) == EOF)
 					return (0);
-				if (next == quotec || c == ' ' || c == '\t')
+				if (next == quotec || next == ' ' ||
+				    next == '\t')
 					c = next;
 				else if (next == '\n') {
 					file->lineno++;