diff --git a/HTMLparser.c b/HTMLparser.c
index 19c10c3f..bdf78071 100644
--- a/HTMLparser.c
+++ b/HTMLparser.c
@@ -3264,12 +3264,17 @@ htmlParseComment(htmlParserCtxtPtr ctxt) {
 	ctxt->instate = state;
 	return;
     }
+    len = 0;
+    buf[len] = 0;
     q = CUR_CHAR(ql);
+    if (!IS_CHAR(q))
+        goto unfinished;
     NEXTL(ql);
     r = CUR_CHAR(rl);
+    if (!IS_CHAR(r))
+        goto unfinished;
     NEXTL(rl);
     cur = CUR_CHAR(l);
-    len = 0;
     while (IS_CHAR(cur) &&
            ((cur != '>') ||
 	    (r != '-') || (q != '-'))) {
@@ -3300,18 +3305,20 @@ htmlParseComment(htmlParserCtxtPtr ctxt) {
 	}
     }
     buf[len] = 0;
-    if (!IS_CHAR(cur)) {
-	htmlParseErr(ctxt, XML_ERR_COMMENT_NOT_FINISHED,
-	             "Comment not terminated \n<!--%.50s\n", buf, NULL);
-	xmlFree(buf);
-    } else {
+    if (IS_CHAR(cur)) {
         NEXT;
 	if ((ctxt->sax != NULL) && (ctxt->sax->comment != NULL) &&
 	    (!ctxt->disableSAX))
 	    ctxt->sax->comment(ctxt->userData, buf);
 	xmlFree(buf);
+	ctxt->instate = state;
+	return;
     }
-    ctxt->instate = state;
+
+unfinished:
+    htmlParseErr(ctxt, XML_ERR_COMMENT_NOT_FINISHED,
+		 "Comment not terminated \n<!--%.50s\n", buf, NULL);
+    xmlFree(buf);
 }
 
 /**