diff --git a/src/backend/regex/regc_lex.c b/src/backend/regex/regc_lex.c
index d68f88c7fc0..883b5cf1672 100644
--- a/src/backend/regex/regc_lex.c
+++ b/src/backend/regex/regc_lex.c
@@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ 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('[') &&