diff --git a/bin/sh/parser.c b/bin/sh/parser.c
index 86f50fc7b840..eb7501e04ef1 100644
--- a/bin/sh/parser.c
+++ b/bin/sh/parser.c
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ pipeline(void)
 	int negate;
 
 	negate = 0;
+	checkkwd = 2;
 	TRACE(("pipeline: entered\n"));
 	while (readtoken() == TNOT)
 		negate = !negate;