diff --git a/lib/libc/string/memmem.c b/lib/libc/string/memmem.c
index 27863b9db623..9e7bf94b1464 100644
--- a/lib/libc/string/memmem.c
+++ b/lib/libc/string/memmem.c
@@ -153,8 +153,8 @@ twoway_memmem(const unsigned char *h, const unsigned char *z,
 		if (BITOP(byteset, h[l - 1], &)) {
 			k = l - shift[h[l - 1]];
 			if (k) {
-				if (mem0 && mem && k < p)
-					k = l - p;
+				if (k < mem)
+					k = mem;
 				h += k;
 				mem = 0;
 				continue;