diff --git a/src/cmd/5g/reg.c b/src/cmd/5g/reg.c
index bc3fca5048..b598b78bb2 100644
--- a/src/cmd/5g/reg.c
+++ b/src/cmd/5g/reg.c
@@ -703,8 +703,8 @@ brk:
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if(r1 != R) {
-		r1->link = freer;
+	if(lastr != R) {
+		lastr->link = freer;
 		freer = firstr;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/6g/reg.c b/src/cmd/6g/reg.c
index 847d45410d..0c22c9ffb8 100644
--- a/src/cmd/6g/reg.c
+++ b/src/cmd/6g/reg.c
@@ -781,8 +781,8 @@ brk:
 				p->to.branch = p->to.branch->link;
 	}
 
-	if(r1 != R) {
-		r1->link = freer;
+	if(lastr != R) {
+		lastr->link = freer;
 		freer = firstr;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/8g/reg.c b/src/cmd/8g/reg.c
index 50b15b08c4..98f3ee0d65 100644
--- a/src/cmd/8g/reg.c
+++ b/src/cmd/8g/reg.c
@@ -677,8 +677,8 @@ brk:
 				p->to.branch = p->to.branch->link;
 	}
 
-	if(r1 != R) {
-		r1->link = freer;
+	if(lastr != R) {
+		lastr->link = freer;
 		freer = firstr;
 	}