1 files changed, 2 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/src/regex.c b/src/regex.c
index 459c0ab26b1..a53eac29216 100644
--- a/src/regex.c
+++ b/src/regex.c
@@ -2545,8 +2545,8 @@ regex_compile (pattern, size, syntax, bufp)
             re_char *p1 = p;
 
             /* If there's no special whitespace regexp, treat
-               spaces normally.  */
-            if (!whitespace_regexp)
+               spaces normally.  And don't try to do this recursively.  */
+            if (!whitespace_regexp || in_subpattern)
               goto normal_char;
 
             /* Peek past following spaces.  */