diff --git a/rc/tools/spell.kak b/rc/tools/spell.kak
index d062f3e4..07318250 100644
--- a/rc/tools/spell.kak
+++ b/rc/tools/spell.kak
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ define-command -params ..1 -docstring %{
                     }
 
                     else if (/^[#&]/) {
-                        word_len = length($2)
+                        word_len = length($2) - 1
                         word_pos = substr($0, 1, 1) == "&" ? substr($4, 1, length($4) - 1) : $3;
                         regions = regions " " line_num "." word_pos "+" word_len "|Error"
                     }