diff --git a/src/regex.c b/src/regex.c
index 41f2cafa539..e83e28dac1e 100644
--- a/src/regex.c
+++ b/src/regex.c
@@ -1295,7 +1295,7 @@ typedef struct
     {									\
       for (this_reg = highest_active_reg; this_reg > high_reg; this_reg--) \
 	{								\
-	  reg_info[this_reg].word = 0;					\
+	  reg_info[this_reg].word.integer = 0;				\
 	  regend[this_reg] = 0;						\
 	  regstart[this_reg] = 0;					\
 	}								\