diff --git a/src/utf8_iterator.hh b/src/utf8_iterator.hh
index 4fa206b3..cc1d3b47 100644
--- a/src/utf8_iterator.hh
+++ b/src/utf8_iterator.hh
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public:
         check_invariant();
         other.check_invariant();
         CharCount dist = 0;
-        while (other.m_it != m_it)
+        while (other.m_it < m_it)
         {
             ++dist;
             ++other;