--- posix/regcomp.c	2003-11-26 08:54:28.000000000 +0100
+++ posix/regcomp.c	2003-11-27 11:41:00.000000000 +0100
@@ -2191,6 +2191,8 @@
       else if (syntax & RE_CONTEXT_INDEP_OPS)
 	{
 	  fetch_token (token, regexp, syntax);
+	  if (token->type == OP_CLOSE_SUBEXP || token->type == OP_ALT)
+	    return NULL;
 	  return parse_expression (regexp, preg, token, syntax, nest, err);
 	}
       /* else fall through  */