--- b.c
+++ b.c
@@ -463,9 +463,10 @@
 int pisblank(P *p)
 {
 	P *q = pdup(p, USTR "pisblank");
+	int brc_result;
 
 	p_goto_bol(q);
-	while (joe_isblank(p->b->o.charmap,brc(q)))
+	while (((brc_result = brc(q)) != MAXINT) && joe_isblank(p->b->o.charmap,brc(q)))
 		pgetb(q);
 	if (piseol(q)) {
 		prm(q);
@@ -497,9 +498,10 @@
 {
 	P *q = pdup(p, US "pisindent");
 	long col;
+	int brc_result;
 
 	p_goto_bol(q);
-	while (joe_isblank(p->b->o.charmap,brc(q)))
+	while (((brc_result = brc(q)) != MAXINT) && joe_isblank(p->b->o.charmap,brc(q)))
 		pgetc(q);
 	col = q->col;
 	prm(q);