diff --git a/src/u_sxsyn.pas b/src/u_sxsyn.pas
index 4cd7d4b0..fccacc42 100644
--- a/src/u_sxsyn.pas
+++ b/src/u_sxsyn.pas
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ begin
   nextPChar := safeLookupChar();
   if nextPChar <> nil then
   begin
-    nextChar := fLineBuf[fTokStop];
+    nextChar := nextPChar^;
     if (nextChar = op) or (nextChar = '=') then
       fTokStop += 1;
   end;