diff --git a/extmod/re1.5/compilecode.c b/extmod/re1.5/compilecode.c
index e4635f034a..3267a4190d 100644
--- a/extmod/re1.5/compilecode.c
+++ b/extmod/re1.5/compilecode.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ static const char *_compilecode(const char *re, ByteProg *prog, int sizecode)
             for (cnt = 0; *re != ']'; re++, cnt++) {
                 if (!*re) return NULL;
                 EMIT(PC++, *re);
-                if (re[1] == '-') {
+                if (re[1] == '-' && re[2] != ']') {
                     re += 2;
                 }
                 EMIT(PC++, *re);