diff --git a/src/u_sxsyn.pas b/src/u_sxsyn.pas
index fccacc42..fe0f69e8 100644
--- a/src/u_sxsyn.pas
+++ b/src/u_sxsyn.pas
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ begin
   nextPChar := safeLookupChar();
   if nextPChar <> nil then
   begin
-    nextChar := fLineBuf[fTokStop];
+    nextChar := nextPChar^;
     if (nextChar = '=') or (nextChar = '>') then
       fTokStop += 1;
   end;