diff --git a/collects/framework/private/color.ss b/collects/framework/private/color.ss
index 4e08e660..2b4e58f7 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/color.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/color.ss
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@
                  (insert c)
                  (let ((m (backward-match (+ l pos) start-pos)))
                    (cond
-                     ((and m (send parens is-open-pos? m))
+                     ((and m (send parens is-open-pos? (- m start-pos)))
                       (delete pos (+ l pos))
                       c)
                      (else