diff --git a/misc.c b/misc.c
index a7e9e711..88dfd60c 100644
--- a/misc.c
+++ b/misc.c
@@ -50,9 +50,8 @@ collapse_continuations (line)
     return;
 
   out = in;
-  if (out > line)
-    while (out[-1] == '\\')
-      --out;
+  while (out > line && out[-1] == '\\')
+    --out;
 
   while (*in != '\0')
     {