diff -up expect5.45/expect.c.orig expect5.45/expect.c

--- expect5.45/expect.c.orig	2012-02-06 14:15:13.469490744 +0100

+++ expect5.45/expect.c	2012-02-06 14:16:23.596837896 +0100

@@ -2363,7 +2363,12 @@ expMatchProcess(

 	/* "!e" means no case matched - transfer by default */

 	if (!e || e->transfer) {

-	    int remainder = numchars-match;

+	    int remainder;

+	    if (match > numchars) {

+		match = numchars;

+		eo->matchlen = match;

+	    }

+	    remainder = numchars-match;

 	    /* delete matched chars from input buffer */

 	    esPtr->printed -= match;

 	    if (numchars != 0) {