diff --git a/plugin/surround.vim b/plugin/surround.vim
index 18a4935..148a5c9 100644
--- a/plugin/surround.vim
+++ b/plugin/surround.vim
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ function! s:dosurround(...) " {{{1
     exe 'norm! df'.char
   else
     " One character backwards
-    call search('.','bW')
+    call search('\m.', 'bW')
     exe "norm! da".char
   endif
   let removed = getreg('"')