diff --git a/reader.cpp b/reader.cpp
index 9b2960cc9..db8ba2a66 100644
--- a/reader.cpp
+++ b/reader.cpp
@@ -2000,14 +2000,6 @@ static void move_word( int dir, int erase, int newv )
 		end_buff_pos--;
 	}
 	
-	/*
-	  When moving left, ignore the character under the cursor
-	*/
-	if( !dir )
-	{
-		end_buff_pos+=2*step;
-	}
-	
 	/*
 	  Remove all whitespace characters before finding a word
 	*/