diff --git a/src/dnssec.c b/src/dnssec.c
index e09f304..29848e1 100644
--- a/src/dnssec.c
+++ b/src/dnssec.c
@@ -1394,8 +1394,8 @@ static int hostname_cmp(const char *a, const char *b)
       if (sb == b)
 	return 1;
       
-      ea = sa--;
-      eb = sb--;
+      ea = --sa;
+      eb = --sb;
     }
 }