diff --git a/src/fa.c b/src/fa.c
index 66ac70784..4fe7258fe 100644
--- a/src/fa.c
+++ b/src/fa.c
@@ -3551,6 +3551,8 @@ static struct re *parse_regexp(struct re_parse *parse) {
 
  error:
     re_unref(re);
+    if (parse->error == REG_NOERROR)
+        parse->error = REG_ESPACE;
     return NULL;
 }