diff --git a/src/utils/smallut.cpp b/src/utils/smallut.cpp
index d2218c94..48acdc9f 100644
--- a/src/utils/smallut.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/smallut.cpp
@@ -1281,7 +1281,7 @@ public:
         } else {
             ok = false;
         }
-        matches.reserve(nmatch+1);
+        matches.resize(nmatch+1);
     }
     ~Internal() {
         regfree(&expr);