diff --git a/basis/multiline/multiline-tests.factor b/basis/multiline/multiline-tests.factor
index 25acd9400b..153b6cedbe 100644
--- a/basis/multiline/multiline-tests.factor
+++ b/basis/multiline/multiline-tests.factor
@@ -16,3 +16,6 @@ bar
 world"> ] unit-test
 
 [ "hello" "world" ] [ <" hello"> <" world"> ] unit-test
+
+[ "\nhi" ] [ <"
+hi"> ] unit-test
diff --git a/basis/multiline/multiline.factor b/basis/multiline/multiline.factor
index 8737951944..a79c25750c 100644
--- a/basis/multiline/multiline.factor
+++ b/basis/multiline/multiline.factor
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ PRIVATE>
 :: (parse-multiline-string) ( i end -- j )
     lexer get line-text>> :> text
     text [
-        end text i start*
-        [| j | i j text subseq % j end length + ] [
-            text i tail % CHAR: \n ,
+        end text i start* [| j |
+            i j text subseq % j end length +
+        ] [
+            text i short tail % CHAR: \n ,
             lexer get next-line
             0 end (parse-multiline-string)
         ] if*