diff --git a/rc/base/spell.kak b/rc/base/spell.kak
index c1db1f10..0ef189e2 100644
--- a/rc/base/spell.kak
+++ b/rc/base/spell.kak
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ define-command spell-next %{ evaluate-commands %sh{
 
     start_first="${kak_opt_spell_regions#* }"
     start_first="${start_first%%|*}"
-    start_first="${start_first#'}"
+    start_first="${start_first#\'}"
 
     find_next_word_desc() {
         ## XXX: the `spell` command adds sorted selection descriptions to the range