diff --git a/mach/proto/cg/reg.c b/mach/proto/cg/reg.c
index bc94e896..b9db3a4c 100644
--- a/mach/proto/cg/reg.c
+++ b/mach/proto/cg/reg.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ awayreg(regno) {
 		if (rp->r_contents.t_token == -1) {
 			if (rp->r_contents.t_att[0].ar == regno)
 				erasereg(rp-machregs);
-		} else {
+		} else if (rp->r_contents.t_token > 0) {
 			tdp= & tokens[rp->r_contents.t_token];
 			for (i=0;i<TOKENSIZE;i++)
 				if (tdp->t_type[i] == EV_REG &&