diff --git a/basis/html/templates/fhtml/fhtml.factor b/basis/html/templates/fhtml/fhtml.factor
index 5256a5b28c..f4ee1bca8f 100644
--- a/basis/html/templates/fhtml/fhtml.factor
+++ b/basis/html/templates/fhtml/fhtml.factor
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ M: template-lexer skip-word
 DEFER: <% delimiter
 
 : check-<% ( lexer -- col )
-    [ line-text>> "<%" ] [ column>> ] bi start* ;
+    [ line-text>> "<%" ] [ column>> ] bi start ;
 
 : found-<% ( accum lexer col -- accum )
     [