diff --git a/lib/libc/regex/engine.c b/lib/libc/regex/engine.c
index 77baa7e606ca..d3affb99326e 100644
--- a/lib/libc/regex/engine.c
+++ b/lib/libc/regex/engine.c
@@ -606,9 +606,9 @@ backref(struct match *m,
 				return(NULL);
 			break;
 		case OBOL:
-			if ( (sp == m->beginp && !(m->eflags&REG_NOTBOL)) ||
-					(sp < m->endp && *(sp-1) == '\n' &&
-						(m->g->cflags&REG_NEWLINE)) )
+			if ((sp == m->beginp && !(m->eflags&REG_NOTBOL)) ||
+			    (sp > m->offp && sp < m->endp &&
+			    *(sp-1) == '\n' && (m->g->cflags&REG_NEWLINE)))
 				{ /* yes */ }
 			else
 				return(NULL);
@@ -622,12 +622,9 @@ backref(struct match *m,
 				return(NULL);
 			break;
 		case OBOW:
-			if (( (sp == m->beginp && !(m->eflags&REG_NOTBOL)) ||
-					(sp < m->endp && *(sp-1) == '\n' &&
-						(m->g->cflags&REG_NEWLINE)) ||
-					(sp > m->beginp &&
-							!ISWORD(*(sp-1))) ) &&
-					(sp < m->endp && ISWORD(*sp)) )
+			if (sp < m->endp && ISWORD(*sp) &&
+			    ((sp == m->beginp && !(m->eflags&REG_NOTBOL)) ||
+			    (sp > m->offp && !ISWORD(*(sp-1)))))
 				{ /* yes */ }
 			else
 				return(NULL);