diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index a4dbb3e..d1f6bca 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -1987,10 +1987,11 @@ formatter_parse_mirc_color (struct formatter *self, const char *s)
 
 	if (*s != ',' || !isdigit_ascii (s[1]))
 		return s;
+	s++;
 
-	int bg = *++s - '0';
-	if (isdigit_ascii (s[1]))
-		bg = bg * 10 + (*++s - '0');
+	int bg = *s++ - '0';
+	if (isdigit_ascii (*s))
+		bg = bg * 10 + (*s++ - '0');
 	if (bg >= 0 && bg < 16)
 		FORMATTER_ADD_ITEM (self, BG_COLOR, .color = g_mirc_to_terminal[bg]);