diff --git a/job.c b/job.c
index 1aac7514..6ae11568 100644
--- a/job.c
+++ b/job.c
@@ -465,9 +465,9 @@ start_job_command (child)
   /* There may be some preceding whitespace left if there
      was nothing but a backslash on the first line.  */
   p = next_token (p);
-
+  
   /* Figure out an argument list from this command line.  */
-
+  
   {
     char *end;
     argv = construct_command_argv (p, &end, child->file);
@@ -480,6 +480,15 @@ start_job_command (child)
       }
   }
 
+  if (touch_flag && !recursive)
+    {
+      /* Go on to the next command.  It might be the recursive one.
+	 We construct ARGV only to find the end of the command line.  */
+      free (argv[0]);
+      free ((char *) argv);
+      argv = 0;
+    }
+
   if (argv == 0)
     {
       /* This line has no commands.  Go to the next.  */