diff --git a/rc/core/c-family.kak b/rc/core/c-family.kak
index 78949de5..97f5ab58 100644
--- a/rc/core/c-family.kak
+++ b/rc/core/c-family.kak
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def -hidden c-family-insert-on-newline %[ eval -draft %[
             exec -save-regs '' k <a-x>1s^\h*(//+\h*)<ret> y
             try %[
                 # if the previous comment isn't empty, create a new one
-                exec <a-x><a-K>^\h*//+\h*$<ret> j<a-x>s^\h*<ret>p
+                exec <a-x><a-K>^\h*//+\h*$<ret> j<a-x>s^\h*<ret>P
             ] catch %[
                 # if there is no text in the previous comment, remove it completely
                 exec d
diff --git a/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/cmd b/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/cmd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..54aed4f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/cmd
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+i<ret><esc>
diff --git a/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/in b/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa8c0d6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+// abc%( )def
diff --git a/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/out b/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..10251d2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/out
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+// abc
+// def
diff --git a/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/rc b/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/rc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..53c40654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/regression/1074-comment-leader-autoinsert-error/rc
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+source "%val{runtime}/colors/default.kak"
+source "%val{runtime}/rc/core/c-family.kak"
+set buffer filetype cpp