diff --git a/libvore/engine.go b/libvore/engine.go
index c952831..b048772 100644
--- a/libvore/engine.go
+++ b/libvore/engine.go
@@ -446,10 +446,15 @@ func compare(a string, b string, caseless bool) bool {
 func (es *SearchEngineState) MATCH(value string, not bool, caseless bool) {
 	comp := es.READ(len(value))
 
+	if len(comp) == 0 {
+		es.BACKTRACK()
+		return
+	}
+
 	if !not && compare(value, comp, caseless) {
 		es.CONSUME(len(value))
 		es.NEXT()
-	} else if not && !compare(value, comp, caseless) && len(comp) > 0 {
+	} else if not && !compare(value, comp, caseless) {
 		es.CONSUME(len(value))
 		es.NEXT()
 	} else {