diff --git a/strans.c b/strans.c
index 94b6f9f..21d199d 100644
--- a/strans.c
+++ b/strans.c
@@ -970,6 +970,7 @@ transition(u32int ks, u32int mod, Str *com)
 		else if(ks == Kesc)
 			reset();
 		else{
+			okuriat = -1;	/* the mark goes with the kana it marked */
 			im.l->back(&im);
 			if(haspre(&im))
 				dictqjp();
diff --git a/tests/engine_test.c b/tests/engine_test.c
index 3691c7f..c3b2dd9 100644
--- a/tests/engine_test.c
+++ b/tests/engine_test.c
@@ -1277,6 +1277,13 @@ engine_japanese_candidates(struct ct *t)
 		checkstr(t, "then the second", "描く", &im.kouho[1]);
 		checkstr(t, "then the reading's own", "確", &im.kouho[2]);
 	}
+	/* Backspace edits the reading, so the split it marked is gone. */
+	CT_CHECK(t, keystroke(Kback, 0, &com));
+	CT_CHECK(t, keystroke('k', 0, &com));
+	CT_CHECK(t, keystroke('u', 0, &com));
+	if(CT_EQ_INT(t, 3, im.nkouho))
+		checkstr(t, "the mark did not outlive its kana", "確",
+			&im.kouho[0]);
 	CT_CHECK(t, keystroke(Kesc, 0, &com));
 	setdict(jp->dict, "いt", "言 行");
 	setdict(jp->dict, "いっt", "言 行");