diff --git a/extra/pcre/pcre.factor b/extra/pcre/pcre.factor
index 2ef992ab26..e1a2a66619 100644
--- a/extra/pcre/pcre.factor
+++ b/extra/pcre/pcre.factor
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ ERROR: malformed-regexp expr error ;
 ERROR: pcre-error value ;
 
 : version ( -- f )
-    pcre_version " " splitting:split1 drop string>number ;
+    pcre_version " -" splitting:split first string>number ;
 
 <PRIVATE