diff --git a/c-programming/jokes/extol.c b/c-programming/jokes/extol.c
index 463b4ba..23e2ba9 100644
--- a/c-programming/jokes/extol.c
+++ b/c-programming/jokes/extol.c
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ extol (FILE *f)
             }
         }
       result = extol (fs);
-      for (result <<= 4, result &= ~15; (result & 15) != 15; result++)
+      for (result <<= 4, result &= ~15;
+           (result & 15) != 15 || (result >>= 4, 0); result++)
         fputc ('=', fs);
-      result >>= 4;
       fprintf (fs, "\n");
       fclose (fs);
     }