diff --git a/src/backend/regex/regc_lex.c b/src/backend/regex/regc_lex.c
index 38617b79fd..ca2bce4831 100644
--- a/src/backend/regex/regc_lex.c
+++ b/src/backend/regex/regc_lex.c
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ brenext(struct vars *v,
 		case CHR('*'):
 			if (LASTTYPE(EMPTY) || LASTTYPE('(') || LASTTYPE('^'))
 				RETV(PLAIN, c);
-			RET('*');
+			RETV('*', 1);
 			break;
 		case CHR('['):
 			if (HAVE(6) && *(v->now + 0) == CHR('[') &&