diff --git a/autoload/EasyMotion.vim b/autoload/EasyMotion.vim
index 4468472..6b14d9a 100644
--- a/autoload/EasyMotion.vim
+++ b/autoload/EasyMotion.vim
@@ -199,8 +199,9 @@ function! EasyMotion#JK(visualmode, direction) " {{{
     if g:EasyMotion_startofline
         call s:EasyMotion('^\(\w\|\s*\zs\|$\)', a:direction, a:visualmode ? visualmode() : '', 0)
     else
-        let prev_column = getpos('.')[2] - 1
-        call s:EasyMotion('^.\{,' . prev_column . '}\zs\(.\|$\)', a:direction, a:visualmode ? visualmode() : '', 0)
+        let c = col('.')
+        let pattern = printf('^.\{-}\zs\(\%%<%dv.\%%>%dv\|$\)', c + 1, c)
+        call s:EasyMotion(pattern, a:direction, a:visualmode ? visualmode() : '', 0)
     endif
     return s:EasyMotion_is_cancelled
 endfunction " }}}