diff --git a/mach/proto/cg/codegen.c b/mach/proto/cg/codegen.c
index b56fc7c7..e763e085 100644
--- a/mach/proto/cg/codegen.c
+++ b/mach/proto/cg/codegen.c
@@ -656,8 +656,10 @@ if (Debug > 1) fprintf(stderr, "cost after coercions: %u\n", t);
 			break;
 		}
 	}
-	if (!toplevel)
-		ply += emrepllen;
+	if (!toplevel) {
+		if (ply >= j) ply += emrepllen - j;
+		else ply = emrepllen;
+	}
 	break;
     case DO_COST:
 	DEBUG("COST");
diff --git a/mach/proto/ncg/codegen.c b/mach/proto/ncg/codegen.c
index 61abf04a..d73fc04b 100644
--- a/mach/proto/ncg/codegen.c
+++ b/mach/proto/ncg/codegen.c
@@ -852,8 +852,14 @@ normalfailed:	if (stackpad!=tokpatlen) {
 			break;
 		}
 	}
-	if (!toplevel)
-		ply += emrepllen;
+	if (!toplevel) {
+		if (ply >= j) ply = emrepllen + ply - j;
+		else ply = emrepllen;
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+		if (Debug > 4) 
+			fprintf(stderr, "ply becomes %d\n", ply);
+#endif
+	}
 	break;
     }
     case DO_COST: {