diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/formats.c b/src/fe-common/core/formats.c
index 4830090a..248b9d20 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/formats.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/formats.c
@@ -828,10 +828,10 @@ static void get_mirc_color(const char **str, int *fg_ret, int *bg_ret)
 		}
 		if (**str == ',') {
 			/* background color */
-			(*str)++;
-			if (!i_isdigit(**str))
+			if (!i_isdigit(*str[1]))
 				bg = -1;
 			else {
+				(*str)++;
 				bg = **str-'0';
 				(*str)++;
 				if (i_isdigit(**str)) {